• Babette C van der Zwaard, Henriëtte E van der Horst, Dirk L Knol, Benedicte Vanwanseele, and Petra J M Elders.
• EMGO+ Institute, Department of General Practice and Elderly Care Medicine, VU University Medical Centre, Amsterdam, The Netherlands Lectoraat, Fontys University for Applied Sciences, Eindhoven, The Netherlands b.vanderzwaard@vumc.nl.
• Ann Fam Med. 2014 Sep 1; 12 (5): 432-40.

PurposeConsultations for forefoot pain are frequent in primary care, but scientific support of treatment options is scarce. The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of podiatric treatment vs standardized advice on proper shoe characteristics and fit of shoes by means of an information leaflet for people aged 50 years and older with forefoot pain in primary care.MethodsIn this randomized controlled trial, 205 participants aged 50 years and older with hindering nontraumatic forefoot pain have been recruited at their general practitioner's office. Exclusion criteria were treatment of forefoot problem of less than 6 months' duration before inclusion, rheumatoid arthritis, and diabetic neuropathy or having pain considered not to be musculoskeletal (eg, warts). Participants received shoe advice by means of an information leaflet or podiatric care. Foot pain, foot-related dysfunction, general health, and social participation were assessed by means of questionnaires every 3 months for 1 year. Using multilevel analysis, we analyzed results at the level of (1) outcome measures, (2) the individual, and (3) the general practitioner.ResultsNo differences were found between the 2 treatment groups. Both intervention groups showed an improvement over time in foot pain and foot-related dysfunction.ConclusionThis study found that shoe advice provided to patients consulting their general practitioner for forefoot pain and symptom relief resulted in outcomes similar to treatment outcomes in patients consulting a podiatrist. Based on these results, primary care physicians should be cautious when referring a patient to a podiatrist; instead, they should start by providing advice on proper characteristics and fit of shoes.© 2014 Annals of Family Medicine, Inc.

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