Foot orthoses were effective for improving balance and for reducing pain and disability in elderly women. Orthoses can be used as an adjuvant strategy to improve balance and to prevent falls in the elderly.

Foot orthoses were effective as an adjuvant in the management of rheumatoid foot. They significantly reduced pain, disability and activity limitation, as measured by the FFI, with minor adverse effects.

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BackgroundAging is associated with reduced postural stability and increased fall risk. Foot orthoses have been reported as an adjuvant intervention to improve balance by stimulating foot plantar mechanical receptors and thus increasing somatosensory input.PurposeThe aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of flat and textured insoles on the balance of primary care elderly people.DesignProspective, parallel, randomized, and single-blind trial.MethodsA total of 100 subjects from a primary care unit, aged ≥65 years, were randomly assigned to intervention groups with flat insoles (n=33), textured insoles (n=33), or control group (n=34) without insoles. The Berg Balance Scale and the Timed Up and Go test were assessed at baseline and after 4 weeks.ResultsImprovements in the Berg Balance Scale and the Timed Up and Go test were noted only in intervention groups with insoles but not in control group. No significant difference was found between flat and textured insoles. Minor adverse effects were noted only in the group with textured insoles.ConclusionThe results suggest that foot orthoses (both flat and textured insoles) are effective in improving balance in primary care elderly people. They may represent a low-cost and high-availability adjuvant strategy to improve balance and prevent falls in this population.

Os autores apresentam os resultados de 21 pacientes, com idade média de 6 anos, submetidos à 26 amputações do membro inferior por malformações congênitas (14), infecções (06) e outras. Discute-se os procedimentos, as complicações, as vantagens e desvantagens de cada nível de amputação. Concluem que a amputação na criança continua sendo uma opção a ser considerada, principalmente por propiciar rápida recuperação funcional e social do paciente.