Unloading shoes for intermittent claudication: a randomised crossover trial.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The purpose of this study was to assess the functional effects and acceptability of rocker-soled shoes that were designed to relatively "unload" the calf muscles during walking in people with calf claudication due to peripheral arterial disease.

Methods

In this randomised AB/BA crossover trial, participants completed two assessment visits up to two weeks apart. At each visit, participants completed walking tests whilst wearing the unloading shoes or visually-similar control shoes. At the end of the second visit, participants were given either the unloading or control shoes to use in their home environment for 2 weeks, with the instruction to wear them for at least 4 h every day. The primary outcome was 6-min walk distance. We also assessed pain-free walking distan

SUBMITTER: Tew GA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5704386 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature