There was weak evidence for  custom orthoses reducing pain and forefoot plantar pressures .
Evidence was inconclusive for foot function , walking speed , gait parameters , and reducing hallux abductovalgus angle progression .
CONCLUSION Custom orthoses may be beneficial in reducing pain and elevated forefoot plantar pressures in the rheumatoid foot and ankle .
OBJECTIVE To identify and critically appraise the evidence for the effectiveness of custom orthoses for the foot and ankle in rheumatoid arthritis .
Can Foot Orthoses Prevent Hallux Valgus Deformity in Rheumatoid Arthritis? A Randomized Clinical Trial
Hallux valgus deformity is the most commonly observed forefoot deformity in patients with rheumatoid arthritis . This 5-year , double-blind , r and omized clinical trial compared treatment orthoses with placebo orthoses for the prevention of hallux valgus deformity in the rheumatoid arthritic foot . One hundred and two subjects with active rheumatoid arthritis and with foot pain and minimal radiographic changes of the feet participated in the study . They were recruited from five arthritis clinics in the Chicago metropolitan area that are affiliated with or are teaching clinics of area medical schools . Patients were followed for 3 years . Eighty-one subjects completed the study . In a logistic regression analysis , the treatment group was 73 % less likely to develop hallux valgus deformity compared with the control group ( adjusted odds ratio 0.27 , 95 % confidence interval 0.078 , 0.916 p = .04 ) . These findings suggest that foot orthoses can prevent or slow the progression of hallux valgus deformity
There was weak evidence for  custom orthoses reducing pain and forefoot plantar pressures .
Evidence was inconclusive for foot function , walking speed , gait parameters , and reducing hallux abductovalgus angle progression .
CONCLUSION Custom orthoses may be beneficial in reducing pain and elevated forefoot plantar pressures in the rheumatoid foot and ankle .
OBJECTIVE To identify and critically appraise the evidence for the effectiveness of custom orthoses for the foot and ankle in rheumatoid arthritis .