USE OF READY-MADE INSOLES IN THE TREATMENT OF LESSER METATARSALGIA - A PROSPECTIVE RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED TRIAL

Two insoles designed to treat primary lesser metatarsalgia were compar ed in terms of their effect on plantar pressures and the subjective sy mptom relief. A prospective single blind randomized trial of 8 weeks' treatment in 46 feet in 33 patients was performed. Subjective outcome measures were visual analogue pain scores and estimated compliance. Ob jective outcome measures were dynamic plantar pressures using the Musg rave Footprint(R) System. In group 1 (Viscoped), 6 of 18 patients rate d themselves much improved or somewhat improved, and in group 2 (Lange r) the proportion was 12 of 15 (P = 0.02). Reported mean compliance wa s 16% higher in the Langer group. Plantar forefoot pressure was lowere d by the insoles in all cases, The reduction was significantly greater (P < 0.001) in group 2, both in absolute pressure and as a percentage of initial pressure. Group 2 (Langer) was significantly better in ter ms of reduction of peak metatarsal pressure, All the subjective outcom e measures were better for the group 2 (Langer).