Shoe Lifts for Leg Length Inequality in Adults With Knee or Hip Symptoms

University of North Carolina (UNC)

Status: Completed

Conditions: Osteoarthritis, Hip; Leg Length Inequality; Osteoarthritis, Knee

Treatments: Device: Shoe lift correction for leg length inequality

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT01894100

13-0807

Details and patient eligibility

About

Limb length inequality is when a person has one leg that is longer than the other. This research will look at correcting limb length inequality in adults with knee or hip symptoms. This study will examine whether ways of measuring leg length inequality in the clinic are valid and reliable, determine whether foot posture (flat foot, normal, and high arch) is related to leg length inequality, and determine whether shoe lifts are a helpful treatment for leg length inequality and knee/hip symptoms.

Full description

The purpose of this study is to examine the optimal clinical assessment method(s) for leg length inequality (LLI), determine if there is an association between foot posture (flat foot, normal, and high arch) and LLI, and gather preliminary data on lift therapy as a treatment for LLI and knee/hip symptoms. The specific aims of the project are as follows:

Specific Aim 1: Determine the validity and reliability of 4 clinical methods for assessing LLI.

Specific Aim 2: Determine differences in static and dynamic foot postures between longer and shorter limbs.

Specific Aim 3: Assess the feasibility of conducting a specific lift therapy intervention among individuals with a LLI and knee or hip pain, refining procedures as needed.

Public Health Impact: Results from the proposed research will be used to: 1) improve diagnosis of LLI by providing evidence on the various assessment methods for the clinicians who most frequently use clinical methods (i.e., physical therapists, chiropractors, podiatrists, and primary care physicians), and 2) develop and test new non-pharmacologic/non-invasive intervention strategies aimed at reducing pain and improving function in individuals with osteoarthritis and LLI.

Enrollment: 46 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 55+ years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• participants from the Johnston County Osteoarthritis Project who have been previously identified to have a LLI and knee or hip symptoms

Exclusion criteria

• hospitalized for stroke, myocardial infarction, coronary artery revascularization, or diagnosis of metastatic cancer in the past 3 months
• terminal illness
• rheumatoid arthritis, severe fibromyalgia, or other systemic rheumatic disease

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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46 participants in 2 patient groups

Delayed Intervention Group

Other group

Description:

This group will not receive shoe lifts during the first 3 months after baseline. At 3 months, they will begin the shoe lift correction for leg length inequality.

Treatment:

Device: Shoe lift correction for leg length inequality

Immediate Intervention Group

Experimental group

Description:

At baseline, participants in this group will begin shoe lift correction for leg length inequality.

Treatment:

Device: Shoe lift correction for leg length inequality