A call to action : providing better footwear and foot orthoses for people with rheumatoid arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic, disabling condition in which the body’s immune system attacks the joints. As the disease progresses, feet become more damaged and deformed. Research produced for this report shows widespread dissatisfaction with all types of therapeutic footwear, and patients have raised concerns around poor fit, appearance, weight of shoe and comfort. Nine out of ten rheumatoid arthritis patients complain of foot pain Seven out of ten having difficulty walking Eighty per cent report problems with their footwear. High street and therapeutic footwear designers and manufacturers do not fully embrace the therapeutic needs of the patient. These factors have an impact on patient quality of life and well-being. The report makes a series of observations and recommendations for the current service, which has been failing for the past two decades to provide accessible podiatric and orthotic services at a time of growing demand from an ageing population