The Impact of Podiatric Intervention on the Quality of Life and Pain in Children and Adolescents with Hypermobility

Muhammad Maarj (), Verity Pacey, Louise Tofts, Matthew Clapham and Andrea Coda
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Muhammad Maarj: School of Health Sciences, College of Health, Medicine and Wellbeing, The University of Newcastle, Ourimbah 2258, Australia
Verity Pacey: Department of Health Sciences, Macquarie University, Macquarie Park 2109, Australia
Louise Tofts: Narrabeen Sports Medicine Centre, Sydney Academy of Sport, Narrabeen 2101, Australia
Matthew Clapham: Hunter Medical Research Institute, New Lambton Heights 2035, Australia
Andrea Coda: School of Health Sciences, College of Health, Medicine and Wellbeing, The University of Newcastle, Ourimbah 2258, Australia

IJERPH, 2023, vol. 20, issue 17, 1-13

Abstract: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of custom-made orthotics on pain, health-related quality of life (HRQoL), function and fatigue in children and adolescents with generalised joint hypermobility (GJH) and lower limb pain. Fifty-three children aged 5–18 years were fitted with custom-made polypropylene orthotics. Visual analogue scale (VAS) assessed lower limb pain severity, Paediatric Quality of Life Inventory assessed HRQoL and fatigue and six-minute walk test (6 MWT) measured functional endurance at baseline, at 1 month and 3 months post-intervention. A mixed model including a random intercept for participant and a fixed effect for time was used to assess differences in outcomes over time. Fifty-two children completed the study (mean age 10.6-years). Children reported significantly reduced pain (mean VAS reduction −27/100, 95%CI: −33, −21), improved HRQoL (mean total improvement 11/100, 95%CI: 7, −15), functional capacity (mean 6MWT improvement 27 m, 95%CI: 18, −36) and fatigue (mean total improvement 13/100, 95%CI: 9, −17) after 1 month of wearing the custom-made orthotics. From 1 month to 3 months there was further statistically but not clinically significant reduction in pain while benefit on other outcomes was maintained. In this study, children with GJH reported reduced lower limb pain, improved HRQoL, functional endurance and fatigue after a month post-fitting of custom-made orthotics which was maintained over a 3 month period. Orthotics were well-tolerated with no serious adverse events reported.

Keywords: children; fatigue; generalized joint hypermobility; lower limb pain; orthotics; quality of life (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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