Foot Shape and Its Effect on Functioning in Royal Australian Air Force Recruits. Part 2: Pilot, Randomized, Controlled Trial of Orthotics in Recruits with Flat Feet

Military Medicine,  Jul 2005  by Esterman, Adrian,  Pilotto, Louis

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The effectiveness of orthotic therapy is dependent on the recruits provided with orthotics actually wearing them. The interview with recruits assigned to the orthotics group gave some clues as to why the orthotics were not worn. First, the recruits found it inconvenient to keep swapping the orthotics between different types of footwear. second, the orthotics were fitted in combat boots and might not have been a good fit in other types of footwear, such as dress shoes or trainers. Finally, only one type of orthotic was supplied, and a greater choice of orthotics might have improved their comfort.

Clearly, future studies examining the effectiveness of orthotics will need to address this issue. The results of this pilot randomized controlled trial provide some tentative evidence that orthotics may improve lower limb pain and general foot health and decrease injury rates among military recruits with flexible flat feet.

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