{"id":6047,"date":"2014-11-03T20:00:55","date_gmt":"2014-11-03T19:00:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.bmj.com\/bjsm\/?p=6047"},"modified":"2014-11-03T06:00:39","modified_gmt":"2014-11-03T05:00:39","slug":"customised-foot-orthoses-for-achilles-tendinopathy-rct-responding-to-the-critics","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.bmj.com\/bjsm\/2014\/11\/03\/customised-foot-orthoses-for-achilles-tendinopathy-rct-responding-to-the-critics\/","title":{"rendered":"Customised foot orthoses for Achilles tendinopathy RCT: responding to the critics"},"content":{"rendered":"<div><\/div>\n<div><strong><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;font-size: medium\"><span style=\"color: black;font-family: 'Myriad Pro', sans-serif;font-size: large\">By Dr Shannon E Munteanu, Lisa A Scott, Daniel R Bonanno, Dr Karl B Landorf, Dr Tania Pizzari, Prof Jill Cook, Prof Hylton B Menz<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;font-size: medium\"><span style=\"color: black;font-family: 'Myriad Pro', sans-serif;font-size: large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.bmj.com\/bjsm\/files\/2014\/11\/achilles.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright  wp-image-6048\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.bmj.com\/bjsm\/files\/2014\/11\/achilles.jpg\" alt=\"-achilles\" width=\"290\" height=\"187\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.bmj.com\/bjsm\/files\/2014\/11\/achilles.jpg 551w, https:\/\/blogs.bmj.com\/bjsm\/files\/2014\/11\/achilles-300x193.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 290px) 100vw, 290px\" \/><\/a>Our group\u2019s randomised controlled trial (RCT) that evaluated the effectiveness of customised foot orthoses for Achilles tendinopathy was recently published in the<\/span><span style=\"color: black;font-family: 'Myriad Pro', sans-serif;font-size: large\">\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"color: black;font-family: 'Myriad Pro', sans-serif;font-size: large\"><i>British Journal of Sports Medicine<\/i><\/span><span style=\"color: black;font-family: 'Myriad Pro', sans-serif;font-size: large\">. The abstract can be viewed<\/span><span style=\"color: black;font-family: 'Myriad Pro', sans-serif;font-size: large\">\u00a0<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/owa.latrobe.edu.au\/owa\/redir.aspx?C=zzKT2O-bDUC7P6r1DVbVP8XwZ5dpwNEIEOQE3FR_ejWmaLd355_evo-2nl8_CrrgsuWmTqmeE7Y.&amp;URL=http%3a%2f%2fbjsm.bmj.com%2fcontent%2fearly%2f2014%2f09%2f22%2fbjsports-2014-093845.abstract\" target=\"_blank\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Myriad Pro', sans-serif;font-size: large\">here<\/span><\/a><span style=\"color: black;font-family: 'Myriad Pro', sans-serif;font-size: large\">, and the full text of the study protocol can be viewed<\/span><span style=\"color: black;font-family: 'Myriad Pro', sans-serif;font-size: large\">\u00a0<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/owa.latrobe.edu.au\/owa\/redir.aspx?C=zzKT2O-bDUC7P6r1DVbVP8XwZ5dpwNEIEOQE3FR_ejWmaLd355_evo-2nl8_CrrgsuWmTqmeE7Y.&amp;URL=http%3a%2f%2fwww.jfootankleres.com%2fcontent%2f2%2f1%2f27\" target=\"_blank\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Myriad Pro', sans-serif;font-size: large\">here<\/span><\/a><span style=\"color: black;font-family: 'Myriad Pro', sans-serif;font-size: large\">.<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<div><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;font-size: medium\"><span style=\"color: black;font-family: 'Myriad Pro', sans-serif;font-size: large\">\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<div><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;font-size: medium\"><span style=\"color: black;font-family: 'Myriad Pro', sans-serif;font-size: large\">As with any RCT that provides unfavourable results for a commonly-used intervention, our trial has attracted some degree of criticism on blogs and social media. Rather than entering into ongoing debates across multiple platforms, we have instead summarised our responses to these criticisms below.<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;font-size: medium\"><b><span style=\"color: black;font-family: 'Myriad Pro', sans-serif;font-size: large\">Criticism #1: The sham orthoses were not \u2018biomechanically inert\u2019<\/span><\/b><\/span><\/div>\n<div><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;font-size: medium\"><span style=\"color: black;font-family: 'Myriad Pro', sans-serif;font-size: large\">In order to measure the treatment-specific effectiveness of an intervention, controlled trials often use placebo groups to compare the experimental intervention to \u2013 the best example being the use of inert pills in pharmaceutical trials. However, this is not possible when evaluating interventions which have a physical or mechanical effect (i.e. those commonly used for musculoskeletal disorders). In these trials, the control group is provided with a \u2018sham\u2019 intervention, which can be<\/span><span style=\"color: black;font-family: 'Myriad Pro', sans-serif;font-size: large\">\u00a0<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/owa.latrobe.edu.au\/owa\/redir.aspx?C=zzKT2O-bDUC7P6r1DVbVP8XwZ5dpwNEIEOQE3FR_ejWmaLd355_evo-2nl8_CrrgsuWmTqmeE7Y.&amp;URL=http%3a%2f%2fwww.merriam-webster.com%2fmedical%2fsham\" target=\"_blank\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Myriad Pro', sans-serif;font-size: large\">defined<\/span><\/a><span style=\"color: black;font-family: 'Myriad Pro', sans-serif;font-size: large\">\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"color: black;font-family: 'Myriad Pro', sans-serif;font-size: large\">as \u201ca treatment or procedure that is performed as a control and that is similar to but<\/span><span style=\"color: black;font-family: 'Myriad Pro', sans-serif;font-size: large\">\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"color: black;font-family: 'Myriad Pro', sans-serif;font-size: large\"><b>omits a key therapeutic element<\/b><\/span><span style=\"color: black;font-family: 'Myriad Pro', sans-serif;font-size: large\">\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"color: black;font-family: 'Myriad Pro', sans-serif;font-size: large\">of the treatment or procedure under investigation\u201d (note the added emphasis). Put simply, a sham intervention is not a placebo.<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<div><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;font-size: medium\"><span style=\"color: black;font-family: 'Myriad Pro', sans-serif;font-size: large\">\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<div><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;font-size: medium\"><span style=\"color: black;font-family: 'Myriad Pro', sans-serif;font-size: large\">Our trial published in the<\/span><span style=\"color: black;font-family: 'Myriad Pro', sans-serif;font-size: large\">\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"color: black;font-family: 'Myriad Pro', sans-serif;font-size: large\"><i>British Journal of Sports Medicine<\/i><\/span><span style=\"color: black;font-family: 'Myriad Pro', sans-serif;font-size: large\">\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"color: black;font-family: 'Myriad Pro', sans-serif;font-size: large\">compared the effectiveness of customised orthoses to sham orthoses for people with Achilles tendinopathy undergoing an eccentric exercise program. The sham orthosis was a contoured, vacuum-moulded device constructed from 4.0 mm thick ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) with a density of 90 kg\/m3\u00a0(i.e. very soft) and had an identical covering fabric to the customised orthosis. The sham device was selected based on a<\/span><span style=\"color: black;font-family: 'Myriad Pro', sans-serif;font-size: large\">\u00a0<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/owa.latrobe.edu.au\/owa\/redir.aspx?C=zzKT2O-bDUC7P6r1DVbVP8XwZ5dpwNEIEOQE3FR_ejWmaLd355_evo-2nl8_CrrgsuWmTqmeE7Y.&amp;URL=http%3a%2f%2fwww.jfootankleres.com%2fcontent%2f6%2f1%2f19\" target=\"_blank\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Myriad Pro', sans-serif;font-size: large\">previous study<\/span><\/a><span style=\"color: black;font-family: 'Myriad Pro', sans-serif;font-size: large\">\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"color: black;font-family: 'Myriad Pro', sans-serif;font-size: large\">which showed that it produced only small effects on plantar pressure (10% reduction in peak pressure under the heel) while still being considered a credible intervention by participants.<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<div><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;font-size: medium\"><span style=\"color: black;font-family: 'Myriad Pro', sans-serif;font-size: large\">\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<div><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;font-size: medium\"><span style=\"color: black;font-family: 'Myriad Pro', sans-serif;font-size: large\">After this study was published, the following comment was made in relation to the selection of control interventions in orthotic studies:<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<div><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;font-size: medium\"><span style=\"color: black;font-family: 'Myriad Pro', sans-serif;font-size: large\">\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<div><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;font-size: medium\"><span style=\"color: black;font-family: 'Myriad Pro', sans-serif;font-size: large\">\u201c\u2026the best you can do is to minimise the influence that the control orthoses have upon the variable of interest\u201d (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/owa.latrobe.edu.au\/owa\/redir.aspx?C=zzKT2O-bDUC7P6r1DVbVP8XwZ5dpwNEIEOQE3FR_ejWmaLd355_evo-2nl8_CrrgsuWmTqmeE7Y.&amp;URL=http%3a%2f%2fwww.podiatry-arena.com%2fpodiatry-forum%2fshowthread.php%3ft%3d90010%238\" target=\"_blank\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Myriad Pro', sans-serif;font-size: large\">link<\/span><\/a><span style=\"color: black;font-family: 'Myriad Pro', sans-serif;font-size: large\">).<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<div><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;font-size: medium\"><span style=\"color: black;font-family: 'Myriad Pro', sans-serif;font-size: large\">\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<div><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;font-size: medium\"><span style=\"color: black;font-family: 'Myriad Pro', sans-serif;font-size: large\">We agree. However, since the publication of our RCT, some have argued that the sham device was not actually a sham because it was not biomechanically \u2018inert\u2019, for example:<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<div><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;font-size: medium\"><span style=\"color: black;font-family: 'Myriad Pro', sans-serif;font-size: large\">\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<div><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;font-size: medium\"><span style=\"color: black;font-family: 'Myriad Pro', sans-serif;font-size: large\">&#8220;There is no such thing as a &#8220;sham&#8221; foot orthosis, and the sooner this is recognised the better\u201d (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/owa.latrobe.edu.au\/owa\/redir.aspx?C=zzKT2O-bDUC7P6r1DVbVP8XwZ5dpwNEIEOQE3FR_ejWmaLd355_evo-2nl8_CrrgsuWmTqmeE7Y.&amp;URL=http%3a%2f%2fwww.podiatry-arena.com%2fpodiatry-forum%2fshowthread.php%3ft%3d99286%237\" target=\"_blank\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Myriad Pro', sans-serif;font-size: large\">link<\/span><\/a><span style=\"color: black;font-family: 'Myriad Pro', sans-serif;font-size: large\">)<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<div><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;font-size: medium\"><span style=\"color: black;font-family: 'Myriad Pro', sans-serif;font-size: large\">\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<div><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;font-size: medium\"><span style=\"color: black;font-family: 'Myriad Pro', sans-serif;font-size: large\">\u201cNot sham orthoses at all. This study actually compared two different types of orthoses\u201d (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/owa.latrobe.edu.au\/owa\/redir.aspx?C=zzKT2O-bDUC7P6r1DVbVP8XwZ5dpwNEIEOQE3FR_ejWmaLd355_evo-2nl8_CrrgsuWmTqmeE7Y.&amp;URL=https%3a%2f%2ftwitter.com%2fSports_Pod%2fstatus%2f514127333297774593\" target=\"_blank\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Myriad Pro', sans-serif;font-size: large\">link<\/span><\/a><span style=\"color: black;font-family: 'Myriad Pro', sans-serif;font-size: large\">)<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<div><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;font-size: medium\"><span style=\"color: black;font-family: 'Myriad Pro', sans-serif;font-size: large\">\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<div><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;font-size: medium\"><span style=\"color: black;font-family: 'Myriad Pro', sans-serif;font-size: large\">\u201cDoes this mean they are completely \u201cinert\u201d and will not change any kinetic parameters at the foot-orthosis interface?\u201d (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/owa.latrobe.edu.au\/owa\/redir.aspx?C=zzKT2O-bDUC7P6r1DVbVP8XwZ5dpwNEIEOQE3FR_ejWmaLd355_evo-2nl8_CrrgsuWmTqmeE7Y.&amp;URL=https%3a%2f%2ftwitter.com%2fsports_pod%2fstatus%2f515020268444852224\" target=\"_blank\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Myriad Pro', sans-serif;font-size: large\">link<\/span><\/a><span style=\"color: black;font-family: 'Myriad Pro', sans-serif;font-size: large\">)<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<div><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;font-size: medium\"><span style=\"color: black;font-family: 'Myriad Pro', sans-serif;font-size: large\">\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<div><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;font-size: medium\"><span style=\"color: black;font-family: 'Myriad Pro', sans-serif;font-size: large\">These comments represent a misunderstanding of what a sham intervention is. It is obvious that no device placed in the shoe can be truly biomechanically inert. However, at no stage have we claimed that the sham device used in our trial<\/span><span style=\"color: black;font-family: 'Myriad Pro', sans-serif;font-size: large\">\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"color: black;font-family: 'Myriad Pro', sans-serif;font-size: large\">was<\/span><span style=\"color: black;font-family: 'Myriad Pro', sans-serif;font-size: large\">\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"color: black;font-family: 'Myriad Pro', sans-serif;font-size: large\">inert \u2013 we have simply argued (and have evidence to show) that they have as minimal effect as possible while still being considered a credible intervention. Credibility of the sham is critically important when evaluating a real intervention against a sham intervention, otherwise<\/span><span style=\"color: black;font-family: 'Myriad Pro', sans-serif;font-size: large\">\u00a0<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/owa.latrobe.edu.au\/owa\/redir.aspx?C=zzKT2O-bDUC7P6r1DVbVP8XwZ5dpwNEIEOQE3FR_ejWmaLd355_evo-2nl8_CrrgsuWmTqmeE7Y.&amp;URL=http%3a%2f%2fen.wikipedia.org%2fwiki%2fResentful_demoralization\" target=\"_blank\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Myriad Pro', sans-serif;font-size: large\">resentful demoralisation<\/span><\/a><span style=\"color: black;font-family: 'Myriad Pro', sans-serif;font-size: large\">\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"color: black;font-family: 'Myriad Pro', sans-serif;font-size: large\">comes into effect in the sham group, which might bias the findings.<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<div><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;font-size: medium\"><span style=\"color: black;font-family: 'Myriad Pro', sans-serif;font-size: large\">\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<div><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;font-size: medium\"><span style=\"color: black;font-family: 'Myriad Pro', sans-serif;font-size: large\">Interestingly, a<\/span><span style=\"color: black;font-family: 'Myriad Pro', sans-serif;font-size: large\">\u00a0<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/owa.latrobe.edu.au\/owa\/redir.aspx?C=zzKT2O-bDUC7P6r1DVbVP8XwZ5dpwNEIEOQE3FR_ejWmaLd355_evo-2nl8_CrrgsuWmTqmeE7Y.&amp;URL=http%3a%2f%2fwww.japmaonline.org%2fdoi%2fabs%2f10.7547%2f0960205\" target=\"_blank\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Myriad Pro', sans-serif;font-size: large\">previous RCT<\/span><\/a><span style=\"color: black;font-family: 'Myriad Pro', sans-serif;font-size: large\">\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"color: black;font-family: 'Myriad Pro', sans-serif;font-size: large\">that evaluated the effectiveness of customised orthoses for pes cavus also used a sham device for the control group (an insole made from 3-mm latex foam). This device had similar effects on plantar pressure to our sham device (reductions in pressure-time integrals of 9%, 11% and 6% in the rearfoot, forefoot and midfoot, respectively). However, the response to this trial\u00a0<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/owa.latrobe.edu.au\/owa\/redir.aspx?C=zzKT2O-bDUC7P6r1DVbVP8XwZ5dpwNEIEOQE3FR_ejWmaLd355_evo-2nl8_CrrgsuWmTqmeE7Y.&amp;URL=http%3a%2f%2fwww.podiatry-arena.com%2fpodiatry-forum%2fshowthread.php%3ft%3d2124%233\" target=\"_blank\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Myriad Pro', sans-serif;font-size: large\">could not have been more different<\/span><\/a><span style=\"color: black;font-family: 'Myriad Pro', sans-serif;font-size: large\">, and no criticism has been made of this sham device. The fact that this study found customised orthoses were more effective than sham devices may explain the different responses to these two trials.<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<div><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;font-size: medium\"><span style=\"color: black;font-family: 'Myriad Pro', sans-serif;font-size: large\">\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<div><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;font-size: medium\"><span style=\"color: black;font-family: 'Myriad Pro', sans-serif;font-size: large\">If there are any lingering doubts that the sham orthoses had minimal mechanical effects and were markedly different to the customised orthoses, we provide the following movie for your perusal:<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>&lt;iframe width=&#8221;420&#8243; height=&#8221;315&#8243; src=&#8221;\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/Vv42SCh8DIw&#8221; frameborder=&#8221;0&#8243; allowfullscreen&gt;&lt;\/iframe&gt;<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;font-size: medium\"><b><span style=\"color: black;font-family: 'Myriad Pro', sans-serif;font-size: large\">Criticism #2:\u00a0The customised orthoses were not appropriately prescribed<\/span><\/b><\/span><\/div>\n<div><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;font-size: medium\"><span style=\"color: black;font-family: 'Myriad Pro', sans-serif;font-size: large\">Researchers conducting trials of customised orthoses are faced with the unavoidable dilemma of how to individualise or \u2018customise\u2019 the orthoses. This is a long-standing problem and arises because there are currently no evidence-based or consensus guidelines in relation to the prescription of foot orthoses \u2013 an issue that is explored in this<\/span><span style=\"color: black;font-family: 'Myriad Pro', sans-serif;font-size: large\">\u00a0<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/owa.latrobe.edu.au\/owa\/redir.aspx?C=zzKT2O-bDUC7P6r1DVbVP8XwZ5dpwNEIEOQE3FR_ejWmaLd355_evo-2nl8_CrrgsuWmTqmeE7Y.&amp;URL=http%3a%2f%2fwww.jfootankleres.com%2fcontent%2f2%2f1%2f23\" target=\"_blank\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Myriad Pro', sans-serif;font-size: large\">commentary paper<\/span><\/a><span style=\"color: black;font-family: 'Myriad Pro', sans-serif;font-size: large\">. An<\/span><span style=\"color: black;font-family: 'Myriad Pro', sans-serif;font-size: large\">\u00a0<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/owa.latrobe.edu.au\/owa\/redir.aspx?C=zzKT2O-bDUC7P6r1DVbVP8XwZ5dpwNEIEOQE3FR_ejWmaLd355_evo-2nl8_CrrgsuWmTqmeE7Y.&amp;URL=http%3a%2f%2fwww.podiatry-arena.com%2fpodiatry-forum%2fshowthread.php%3ft%3d35160\" target=\"_blank\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Myriad Pro', sans-serif;font-size: large\">ambitious attempt<\/span><\/a><span style=\"color: black;font-family: 'Myriad Pro', sans-serif;font-size: large\">\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"color: black;font-family: 'Myriad Pro', sans-serif;font-size: large\">to try and achieve this commenced in July 2009 but to date has produced no outcome (and has been described as an \u2018epic fail\u2019 by<\/span><span style=\"color: black;font-family: 'Myriad Pro', sans-serif;font-size: large\">\u00a0<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/owa.latrobe.edu.au\/owa\/redir.aspx?C=zzKT2O-bDUC7P6r1DVbVP8XwZ5dpwNEIEOQE3FR_ejWmaLd355_evo-2nl8_CrrgsuWmTqmeE7Y.&amp;URL=http%3a%2f%2fwww.podiatry-arena.com%2fpodiatry-forum%2fshowthread.php%3fp%3d343592%234\" target=\"_blank\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Myriad Pro', sans-serif;font-size: large\">one of its proponents<\/span><\/a><span style=\"color: black;font-family: 'Myriad Pro', sans-serif;font-size: large\">).<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<div><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;font-size: medium\"><span style=\"color: black;font-family: 'Myriad Pro', sans-serif;font-size: large\">\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<div><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;font-size: medium\"><span style=\"color: black;font-family: 'Myriad Pro', sans-serif;font-size: large\">In our trial, the customised orthoses were individually prescribed based on an assessment of participants\u2019 Foot Posture Index and bodyweight. At the time the study protocol was published, there was some concern regarding the lack of a heel lift (this is discussed later), but our approach attracted the following positive comments:\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<div><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;font-size: medium\"><span style=\"color: black;font-family: 'Myriad Pro', sans-serif;font-size: large\">\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<div><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;font-size: medium\"><span style=\"color: black;font-family: 'Myriad Pro', sans-serif;font-size: large\">\u201cI am excited to see Shannon, Karl, Hylton and company trying to tackle this important subject since Achilles tendinitis is a very common injury in my sports medicine practice and it would be nice to see how the individuals all respond to the different protocols\u201d (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/owa.latrobe.edu.au\/owa\/redir.aspx?C=zzKT2O-bDUC7P6r1DVbVP8XwZ5dpwNEIEOQE3FR_ejWmaLd355_evo-2nl8_CrrgsuWmTqmeE7Y.&amp;URL=http%3a%2f%2fwww.podiatry-arena.com%2fpodiatry-forum%2fshowthread.php%3ft%3d39056%235\" target=\"_blank\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Myriad Pro', sans-serif;font-size: large\">link<\/span><\/a><span style=\"color: black;font-family: 'Myriad Pro', sans-serif;font-size: large\">)<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<div><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;font-size: medium\"><span style=\"color: black;font-family: 'Myriad Pro', sans-serif;font-size: large\">\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<div><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;font-size: medium\"><span style=\"color: black;font-family: 'Myriad Pro', sans-serif;font-size: large\">\u201c\u2026they have made the effort to make the devices more custom than any other study that I have seen&#8230;If they have a pronated FPI, they get the medial heel skive, if neutral it is a basic shell, and if a supinated FPI they get a device to control supination as described in Josh Burns paper&#8230;the devices are made at a laboratory from slipper casts, so should be close to what many Podiatrists would prescribe\u201d (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/owa.latrobe.edu.au\/owa\/redir.aspx?C=zzKT2O-bDUC7P6r1DVbVP8XwZ5dpwNEIEOQE3FR_ejWmaLd355_evo-2nl8_CrrgsuWmTqmeE7Y.&amp;URL=http%3a%2f%2fwww.podiatry-arena.com%2fpodiatry-forum%2fshowthread.php%3ft%3d39056%239\" target=\"_blank\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Myriad Pro', sans-serif;font-size: large\">link<\/span><\/a><span style=\"color: black;font-family: 'Myriad Pro', sans-serif;font-size: large\">)<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<div><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;font-size: medium\"><span style=\"color: black;font-family: 'Myriad Pro', sans-serif;font-size: large\">\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<div><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;font-size: medium\"><span style=\"color: black;font-family: 'Myriad Pro', sans-serif;font-size: large\">However, on the publication of the RCT results, the mood changed considerably:<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<div><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;font-size: medium\"><span style=\"color: black;font-family: 'Myriad Pro', sans-serif;font-size: large\">\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<div><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;font-size: medium\"><span style=\"color: black;font-family: 'Myriad Pro', sans-serif;font-size: large\">\u00a0\u201cIs giving everyone the same prescription even a true definition of a custom device? Not for me\u2026\u201d (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/owa.latrobe.edu.au\/owa\/redir.aspx?C=zzKT2O-bDUC7P6r1DVbVP8XwZ5dpwNEIEOQE3FR_ejWmaLd355_evo-2nl8_CrrgsuWmTqmeE7Y.&amp;URL=https%3a%2f%2ftwitter.com%2fSports_Pod%2fstatus%2f514136251575070720\" target=\"_blank\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Myriad Pro', sans-serif;font-size: large\">link<\/span><\/a><span style=\"color: black;font-family: 'Myriad Pro', sans-serif;font-size: large\">)<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<div><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;font-size: medium\"><span style=\"color: black;font-family: 'Myriad Pro', sans-serif;font-size: large\">\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<div><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;font-size: medium\"><span style=\"color: black;font-family: 'Myriad Pro', sans-serif;font-size: large\">\u201cIt&#8217;s really hard for me to get excited about custom foot orthosis research unless the custom foot orthoses used in these studies are the types of foot orthoses used by those who are most experienced and expert at foot orthosis therapy\u201d (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/owa.latrobe.edu.au\/owa\/redir.aspx?C=zzKT2O-bDUC7P6r1DVbVP8XwZ5dpwNEIEOQE3FR_ejWmaLd355_evo-2nl8_CrrgsuWmTqmeE7Y.&amp;URL=http%3a%2f%2fwww.podiatry-arena.com%2fpodiatry-forum%2fshowthread.php%3ft%3d99286%236\" target=\"_blank\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Myriad Pro', sans-serif;font-size: large\">link<\/span><\/a><span style=\"color: black;font-family: 'Myriad Pro', sans-serif;font-size: large\">)<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<div><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;font-size: medium\"><span style=\"color: black;font-family: 'Myriad Pro', sans-serif;font-size: large\">\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<div><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;font-size: medium\"><span style=\"color: black;font-family: 'Myriad Pro', sans-serif;font-size: large\">To reiterate \u2013 there are no evidence-based or expert consensus guidelines in relation to the prescription of foot orthoses. Until such guidelines are produced, there is no basis upon which to argue that our prescription approach was inappropriate.<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;font-size: medium\"><b><span style=\"color: black;font-family: 'Myriad Pro', sans-serif;font-size: large\">Criticism #3:\u00a0Why no heel lift?<\/span><\/b><\/span><\/div>\n<div><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;font-size: medium\"><span style=\"color: black;font-family: 'Myriad Pro', sans-serif;font-size: large\">Heel lifts are commonly recommended as a treatment for Achilles tendinopathy, based on the assumption that elevating the heel decreases Achilles tendon loading. In designing the trial, we considered adding a heel lift to the orthoses but eventually decided against this. This was<\/span><span style=\"color: black;font-family: 'Myriad Pro', sans-serif;font-size: large\">\u00a0<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/owa.latrobe.edu.au\/owa\/redir.aspx?C=zzKT2O-bDUC7P6r1DVbVP8XwZ5dpwNEIEOQE3FR_ejWmaLd355_evo-2nl8_CrrgsuWmTqmeE7Y.&amp;URL=http%3a%2f%2fwww.podiatry-arena.com%2fpodiatry-forum%2fshowthread.php%3ft%3d39056\" target=\"_blank\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Myriad Pro', sans-serif;font-size: large\">criticised<\/span><\/a><span style=\"color: black;font-family: 'Myriad Pro', sans-serif;font-size: large\">\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"color: black;font-family: 'Myriad Pro', sans-serif;font-size: large\">when the study protocol was published and again when the RCT results were published:<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<div><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;font-size: medium\"><span style=\"color: black;font-family: 'Myriad Pro', sans-serif;font-size: large\">\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<div><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;font-size: medium\"><span style=\"color: black;font-family: 'Myriad Pro', sans-serif;font-size: large\">\u201cI would have thought that if one was to design an experiment on custom foot orthoses for Achilles tendinopathy that one would have used a custom foot orthosis with a heel lift added to the orthosis since this is the type of custom foot orthosis that nearly every good sports podiatrist that I know of uses in their orthoses for patients with Achilles tendinopathy\u201d (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/owa.latrobe.edu.au\/owa\/redir.aspx?C=zzKT2O-bDUC7P6r1DVbVP8XwZ5dpwNEIEOQE3FR_ejWmaLd355_evo-2nl8_CrrgsuWmTqmeE7Y.&amp;URL=http%3a%2f%2fwww.podiatry-arena.com%2fpodiatry-forum%2fshowthread.php%3fs%3d405bb0343382ff83ed7839084ced18f9%26t%3d99286%236\" target=\"_blank\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Myriad Pro', sans-serif;font-size: large\">link<\/span><\/a><span style=\"color: black;font-family: 'Myriad Pro', sans-serif;font-size: large\">)<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<div><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;font-size: medium\"><span style=\"color: black;font-family: 'Myriad Pro', sans-serif;font-size: large\">\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<div><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;font-size: medium\"><span style=\"color: black;font-family: 'Myriad Pro', sans-serif;font-size: large\">\u201cOf course there should have been heel lifts on the foot orthoses\u201d (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/owa.latrobe.edu.au\/owa\/redir.aspx?C=zzKT2O-bDUC7P6r1DVbVP8XwZ5dpwNEIEOQE3FR_ejWmaLd355_evo-2nl8_CrrgsuWmTqmeE7Y.&amp;URL=http%3a%2f%2fwww.podiatry-arena.com%2fpodiatry-forum%2fshowthread.php%3fs%3d405bb0343382ff83ed7839084ced18f9%26t%3d99286%237\" target=\"_blank\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Myriad Pro', sans-serif;font-size: large\">link<\/span><\/a><span style=\"color: black;font-family: 'Myriad Pro', sans-serif;font-size: large\">)<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<div><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;font-size: medium\"><span style=\"color: black;font-family: 'Myriad Pro', sans-serif;font-size: large\">\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<div><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;font-size: medium\"><span style=\"color: black;font-family: 'Myriad Pro', sans-serif;font-size: large\">&#8220;Clinically speaking I think it&#8217;s reasonable to say that most practitioners would incorporate a heel raise&#8221; (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/owa.latrobe.edu.au\/owa\/redir.aspx?C=zzKT2O-bDUC7P6r1DVbVP8XwZ5dpwNEIEOQE3FR_ejWmaLd355_evo-2nl8_CrrgsuWmTqmeE7Y.&amp;URL=https%3a%2f%2ftwitter.com%2fsports_pod%2fstatus%2f515017661835931648\" target=\"_blank\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Myriad Pro', sans-serif;font-size: large\">link<\/span><\/a><span style=\"color: black;font-family: 'Myriad Pro', sans-serif;font-size: large\">)<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<div><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;font-size: medium\"><span style=\"color: black;font-family: 'Myriad Pro', sans-serif;font-size: large\">\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<div><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;font-size: medium\"><span style=\"color: black;font-family: 'Myriad Pro', sans-serif;font-size: large\">So why no heel lifts?<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<div><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;font-size: medium\"><span style=\"color: black;font-family: 'Myriad Pro', sans-serif;font-size: large\">\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<div><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;font-size: medium\"><span style=\"color: black;font-family: 'Myriad Pro', sans-serif;font-size: large\">Put simply, the evidence to support the use of heel lifts in Achilles tendinopathy is extremely limited. First,<\/span><span style=\"color: black;font-family: 'Myriad Pro', sans-serif;font-size: large\">\u00a0<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/owa.latrobe.edu.au\/owa\/redir.aspx?C=zzKT2O-bDUC7P6r1DVbVP8XwZ5dpwNEIEOQE3FR_ejWmaLd355_evo-2nl8_CrrgsuWmTqmeE7Y.&amp;URL=http%3a%2f%2fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2fpubmed%2f25108348\" target=\"_blank\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Myriad Pro', sans-serif;font-size: large\">our systematic review<\/span><\/a><span style=\"color: black;font-family: 'Myriad Pro', sans-serif;font-size: large\">\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"color: black;font-family: 'Myriad Pro', sans-serif;font-size: large\">revealed<\/span><span style=\"color: black;font-family: 'Myriad Pro', sans-serif;font-size: large\">\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"color: black;font-family: 'Myriad Pro', sans-serif;font-size: large\"><b>no<\/b><\/span><span style=\"color: black;font-family: 'Myriad Pro', sans-serif;font-size: large\">\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"color: black;font-family: 'Myriad Pro', sans-serif;font-size: large\">trials of heel lifts as a treatment for AT. Second, the biomechanical evidence that heel elevation decreases Achilles tendon loads is not at all convincing. At the time the study was designed, three studies had examined the biomechanical effects of heel elevation on Achilles tendon loading:<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<div><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;font-size: medium\"><span style=\"color: black;font-family: 'Myriad Pro', sans-serif;font-size: large\">\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<div><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;font-size: medium\"><span style=\"color: black;font-family: 'Myriad Pro', sans-serif;font-size: large\">&#8211;<\/span><span style=\"font-size: xx-small\">\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/owa.latrobe.edu.au\/owa\/redir.aspx?C=zzKT2O-bDUC7P6r1DVbVP8XwZ5dpwNEIEOQE3FR_ejWmaLd355_evo-2nl8_CrrgsuWmTqmeE7Y.&amp;URL=http%3a%2f%2fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2fpubmed%2f7752869\" target=\"_blank\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Myriad Pro', sans-serif;font-size: large\">Reinschmidt and Nigg<\/span><\/a><span style=\"color: black;font-family: 'Myriad Pro', sans-serif;font-size: large\">\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"color: black;font-family: 'Myriad Pro', sans-serif;font-size: large\">(1995) found no difference in plantarflexion moments when subjects ran in shoes which differed in heel height (2.1-3.3 cm), and concluded that \u201cthe results of this study did not support the speculation that changes in heel height would reduce the plantarflexion moments of the ankle joint, and thus, the Achilles tendon forces\u2026the treatment or prevention of Achilles tendonitis with a raising of the heel is based on anecdotal evidence and not on research\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<div><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;font-size: medium\"><span style=\"color: black;font-family: 'Myriad Pro', sans-serif;font-size: large\">\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<div><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;font-size: medium\"><span style=\"color: black;font-family: 'Myriad Pro', sans-serif;font-size: large\">&#8211;<\/span><span style=\"font-size: xx-small\">\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/owa.latrobe.edu.au\/owa\/redir.aspx?C=zzKT2O-bDUC7P6r1DVbVP8XwZ5dpwNEIEOQE3FR_ejWmaLd355_evo-2nl8_CrrgsuWmTqmeE7Y.&amp;URL=http%3a%2f%2fjournals.humankinetics.com%2fjab-back-issues%2fJABVolume14Issue4November%2fTheInfluenceofHeelLiftManipulationonAchillesTendonLoadinginRunning\" target=\"_blank\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Myriad Pro', sans-serif;font-size: large\">Dixon and Kerwin<\/span><\/a><span style=\"color: black;font-family: 'Myriad Pro', sans-serif;font-size: large\">\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"color: black;font-family: 'Myriad Pro', sans-serif;font-size: large\">(1998) assessed the effects of 7.5mm and 15mm heel lifts on Achilles tendon force during running, and found that Achilles tendon forces<\/span><span style=\"color: black;font-family: 'Myriad Pro', sans-serif;font-size: large\">\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"color: black;font-family: 'Myriad Pro', sans-serif;font-size: large\"><i>increased<\/i><\/span><span style=\"color: black;font-family: 'Myriad Pro', sans-serif;font-size: large\">\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"color: black;font-family: 'Myriad Pro', sans-serif;font-size: large\">with greater heel elevation. They concluded that \u201cthe finding that increased heel lift may increase maximum Achilles tendon force suggests that caution is advised in the routine use of this intervention\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<div><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;font-size: medium\"><span style=\"color: black;font-family: 'Myriad Pro', sans-serif;font-size: large\">\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<div><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;font-size: medium\"><span style=\"color: black;font-family: 'Myriad Pro', sans-serif;font-size: large\">&#8211;<\/span><span style=\"font-size: xx-small\">\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/owa.latrobe.edu.au\/owa\/redir.aspx?C=zzKT2O-bDUC7P6r1DVbVP8XwZ5dpwNEIEOQE3FR_ejWmaLd355_evo-2nl8_CrrgsuWmTqmeE7Y.&amp;URL=http%3a%2f%2fwww.sciencedirect.com%2fscience%2farticle%2fpii%2fS1095643308002298\" target=\"_blank\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Myriad Pro', sans-serif;font-size: large\">Farris et al<\/span><\/a><span style=\"color: black;font-family: 'Myriad Pro', sans-serif;font-size: large\">\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"color: black;font-family: 'Myriad Pro', sans-serif;font-size: large\">(2008) assessed the effects of 12 and 18mm heel lifts compared to a no-lift control condition in 6 female runners, and found no difference in peak Achilles tendon forces or maximum Achilles tendon strain between conditions, concluding that \u201cHeel lifts alter ankle mechanics during running. However, this appears not to affect peak AT force or strain\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<div><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;font-size: medium\"><span style=\"color: black;font-family: 'Myriad Pro', sans-serif;font-size: large\">\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<div><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;font-size: medium\"><span style=\"color: black;font-family: 'Myriad Pro', sans-serif;font-size: large\">In the time between the commencement of our trial and its publication, one study has been published that suggested that heel lifts may have beneficial effects on Achilles tendon loading:<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<div><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;font-size: medium\"><span style=\"color: black;font-family: 'Myriad Pro', sans-serif;font-size: large\">\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<div><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;font-size: medium\"><span style=\"color: black;font-family: 'Myriad Pro', sans-serif;font-size: large\">&#8211;<\/span><span style=\"font-size: xx-small\">\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/owa.latrobe.edu.au\/owa\/redir.aspx?C=zzKT2O-bDUC7P6r1DVbVP8XwZ5dpwNEIEOQE3FR_ejWmaLd355_evo-2nl8_CrrgsuWmTqmeE7Y.&amp;URL=http%3a%2f%2fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2fpubmed%2f22695168\" target=\"_blank\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Myriad Pro', sans-serif;font-size: large\">Farris et al<\/span><\/a><span style=\"color: black;font-family: 'Myriad Pro', sans-serif;font-size: large\">\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"color: black;font-family: 'Myriad Pro', sans-serif;font-size: large\">(2012) assessed the effects of 12 and 18mm heel lifts on Achilles tendon strain in ten female runners, and found that, compared to the control condition, strain reduced (by 1.9%) with the 18mm lift but did not change with the 12mm lift.<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<div><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;font-size: medium\"><span style=\"color: black;font-family: 'Myriad Pro', sans-serif;font-size: large\">\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<div><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;font-size: medium\"><span style=\"color: black;font-family: 'Myriad Pro', sans-serif;font-size: large\">Would our prescription protocol have changed if this study had been published prior to the commencement of our trial? No \u2013 on balance, the evidence is not overly supportive of the use of heel lifts in Achilles tendinopathy. Interestingly, a<\/span><span style=\"color: black;font-family: 'Myriad Pro', sans-serif;font-size: large\">\u00a0<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/owa.latrobe.edu.au\/owa\/redir.aspx?C=zzKT2O-bDUC7P6r1DVbVP8XwZ5dpwNEIEOQE3FR_ejWmaLd355_evo-2nl8_CrrgsuWmTqmeE7Y.&amp;URL=http%3a%2f%2fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2fpubmed%2f25146855\" target=\"_blank\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Myriad Pro', sans-serif;font-size: large\">recent biomechanical study<\/span><\/a><span style=\"color: black;font-family: 'Myriad Pro', sans-serif;font-size: large\">\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"color: black;font-family: 'Myriad Pro', sans-serif;font-size: large\">found that contoured orthoses<\/span><span style=\"color: black;font-family: 'Myriad Pro', sans-serif;font-size: large\"><i>\u00a0<\/i><\/span><span style=\"color: black;font-family: 'Myriad Pro', sans-serif;font-size: large\"><i>without<\/i><\/span><span style=\"color: black;font-family: 'Myriad Pro', sans-serif;font-size: large\">\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"color: black;font-family: 'Myriad Pro', sans-serif;font-size: large\">a heel lift reduced Achilles tendon load in 12 runners, so it cannot be argued that orthoses<\/span><span style=\"color: black;font-family: 'Myriad Pro', sans-serif;font-size: large\">\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"color: black;font-family: 'Myriad Pro', sans-serif;font-size: large\"><i>must<\/i><\/span><span style=\"color: black;font-family: 'Myriad Pro', sans-serif;font-size: large\">\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"color: black;font-family: 'Myriad Pro', sans-serif;font-size: large\">have a heel lift in order to be effective in the treatment of Achilles tendinopathy. Furthermore, even if there<\/span><span style=\"color: black;font-family: 'Myriad Pro', sans-serif;font-size: large\">\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"color: black;font-family: 'Myriad Pro', sans-serif;font-size: large\"><i>was<\/i><\/span><span style=\"color: black;font-family: 'Myriad Pro', sans-serif;font-size: large\">\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"color: black;font-family: 'Myriad Pro', sans-serif;font-size: large\">good evidence to suggest that heel lifts reduce Achilles tendon loading, the question then arises: why not simply use a heel lift rather than incorporating a heel lift into a customised orthosis?<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<div><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;font-size: medium\"><span style=\"color: black;font-family: 'Myriad Pro', sans-serif;font-size: large\">\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<div><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;font-size: medium\"><span style=\"color: black;font-family: 'Myriad Pro', sans-serif;font-size: large\">In summary, our trial is the most rigorously designed study so far undertaken to assess the effectiveness of customised orthoses in the treatment of Achilles tendinopathy in individuals undergoing an eccentric exercise program. We stand by our conclusion that foot orthoses, prescribed according to the protocol in this study, are no more effective than sham foot orthoses for this condition. We welcome further high-quality RCTs evaluating foot orthoses by other investigators, particularly if they believe that they can prescribe more effective foot orthoses.<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><em><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;font-size: medium\"><span style=\"color: black;font-family: 'Myriad Pro', sans-serif;font-size: large\">Originally posted:\u00a0http:\/\/hyltonmenz.blogspot.ca<\/span><\/span><\/em><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>Originally<\/div>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div><\/div>\n<p><!--TrendMD v2.4.8--><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>By Dr Shannon E Munteanu, Lisa A Scott, Daniel R Bonanno, Dr Karl B Landorf, Dr Tania Pizzari, Prof Jill Cook, Prof Hylton B Menz Our group\u2019s randomised controlled trial (RCT) that evaluated the effectiveness of customised foot orthoses for Achilles tendinopathy was recently published in the\u00a0British Journal of Sports Medicine. The abstract can be [&#8230;]<\/p>\n<p><a class=\"btn btn-secondary understrap-read-more-link\" href=\"https:\/\/blogs.bmj.com\/bjsm\/2014\/11\/03\/customised-foot-orthoses-for-achilles-tendinopathy-rct-responding-to-the-critics\/\">Read More&#8230;<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[604,1319],"class_list":["post-6047","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-achilles-tendinopathy","tag-tendinopathy"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.6 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Customised foot orthoses for Achilles tendinopathy RCT: responding to the critics - BJSM blog - social media&#039;s leading SEM voice<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/blogs.bmj.com\/bjsm\/2014\/11\/03\/customised-foot-orthoses-for-achilles-tendinopathy-rct-responding-to-the-critics\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Customised foot orthoses for Achilles tendinopathy RCT: responding to the critics - BJSM blog - social media&#039;s leading SEM voice\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"By Dr Shannon E Munteanu, Lisa A Scott, Daniel R Bonanno, Dr Karl B Landorf, Dr Tania Pizzari, Prof Jill Cook, Prof Hylton B Menz Our group\u2019s randomised controlled trial (RCT) that evaluated the effectiveness of customised foot orthoses for Achilles tendinopathy was recently published in the\u00a0British Journal of Sports Medicine. 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