A pilot comparison of forefoot plantar pressures in newly diagnosed rheumatoid arthritis patients and non-rheumatic subjects

BackgroundIn rheumatoid arthritis (RA) forefoot pathology is often related to increased peak plantar pressures under the metatarsal heads.ObjectivesThis study sought to assess peak plantar pressures in newly diagnosed RA patients compared to non-rheumatic subjects.MethodPlantar pressure in a group of 10 pain free RA patients diagnosed within two years before the starting date of the study and 10 healthy volunteers matched for gender, age and weight were assessed. Each group consisted of seven females and three males aged between 30 and 55 years.ResultsThe results showed no significant difference (ρ = 0.420) at the hallux, however there was a statistical difference in all the other regions (ρ = 0.000 and p = 0.011 for 1st MPJ and 2nd–4th MPJ respectively and p = 0.007 for 5th MPJ). The RA group had higher pressure underneath the 1st and 2nd–4th MPJ regions and lower pressures underneath the 5th MPJ.ConclusionAlthough it is for a small group of patients, the results from this pilot study show that even at an early stage of RA, forefoot pressures are shifted toward the medial MPJs.