Walking ability as a measure of treatment effect in early rheumatoid arthritis

Objective: To assess the clinical usefulness of a prototype walkmat system in patients with early rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Subjects: Twenty-four subjects with early RA and symptomatic forefoot disea se requiring therapy with second-line drugs were recruited. Design: Each subject underwent clinical assessment together with gait analy sis on the contact sensitive walkmat system and Kistler forceplate before a nd after six months of treatment with second-line drugs. Two subjects were lost to follow-up. Results: There was the expected improvement in disease activity in response to therapy. Significant differences were also demonstrated in defined gait parameters that indicated improved weight-bearing and enhanced forefoot pr opulsion. Conclusion: Medical therapy improved walking ability in patients with RA an d the walkmat system provided a useful adjunct to existing outcome measures in the assessment of lower limb function.