Article

The objective of this study was to compare disease activity,
impairments, disability, foot function and gait characteristics between a well
described cohort of juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) patients and normal
healthy controls using a 7-segment foot model and three-dimensional gait
analysis. METHODS: Fourteen patients with JIA (mean (standard deviation) age of
12.4 years (3.2)) and a history of foot disease and 10 healthy children (mean
(standard deviation) age of 12.5 years (3.4)) underwent three-dimensional gait
analysis and plantar pressure analysis to measure biomechanical foot function.
Localised disease impact and foot-specific disease activity were determined using
the juvenile arthritis foot disability index, rear- and forefoot deformity
scores, and clinical and musculoskeletal ultrasound examinations respectively.
Mean differences between groups with associated 95% confidence intervals were
calculated using the t distribution. RESULTS: Mild-to-moderate foot impairments
and disability but low levels of disease activity were detected in the JIA group.
In comparison with healthy subjects, minor trends towards increased midfoot
dorsiflexion and reduced lateral forefoot abduction within a 3-5 degrees range
were observed in patients with JIA. The magnitude and timing of remaining
kinematic, kinetic and plantar pressure distribution variables during the stance
phase were similar for both groups. CONCLUSION: In children and adolescents with
JIA, foot function as determined by a multi-segment foot model did not differ
from that of normal age- and gender-matched subjects despite moderate foot
impairments and disability scores. These findings may indicate that tight control
of active foot disease may prevent joint destruction and associated structural
and functional impairments.
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Langue : ANGLAIS