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Fear of falling and foot pain, impairment and disability in rheumatoid arthritis: a case-control study

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Abstract

Fear of falling, foot pain, impairment and disability are commonly reported in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). However, the relationship between fear of falling and foot pain, impairment and disability has not been investigated in established RA. The aim of the study was to evaluate the relationship between fear of falling and foot pain, walking velocity and foot impairment and disability in women with established RA. A secondary aim was to evaluate differences between fear of falling, foot pain, walking velocity and foot impairment and disability in women with established RA and age- and sex-matched control participants. Twenty-one women with established RA and twenty-one age- and sex-matched controls were assessed for fear of falling, foot pain, foot impairment and disability and walking velocity. Pearson’s r-correlations were used to examine relationships between fear of falling and the foot measures. Independent samples t tests evaluated the differences in fear of falling and foot measures between the two groups. In people with RA, significant correlations were found between fear of falling and foot impairment (r = 0.53, p = 0.015), foot disability (r = 0.77, p <0.001) and walking velocity (r = 0.56, p < 0.001). No correlation was found between fear of falling and foot pain (r = 0.36; p = 0.11). Significant differences between cases and control participants were found between fear of falling (p = 0.001), foot impairment (p = 0.004) and foot disability (p < 0.001). Foot impairment and disability relates to fear of falling in women with established RA. A better understanding of fear of falling in people with established RA may contribute to more efficient falls assessments in order to identify at risk individuals.

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Acknowledgments

TM was supported through a scholarship from ASICS New Zealand.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Podiatry, Health & Research Rehabilitation Institute, Auckland University of Technology, Private Bag 92006, Auckland, 1020, New Zealand

    Tricia Morpeth, Angela Brenton-Rule, Matthew Carroll, Mike Frecklington & Keith Rome

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  1. Tricia Morpeth
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  2. Angela Brenton-Rule
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  3. Matthew Carroll
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  4. Mike Frecklington
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  5. Keith Rome
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Correspondence to Keith Rome.

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The Auckland University of Technology Ethics Committee approved the study and participants provided informed written consent.

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Morpeth, T., Brenton-Rule, A., Carroll, M. et al. Fear of falling and foot pain, impairment and disability in rheumatoid arthritis: a case-control study. Clin Rheumatol 35, 887–891 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10067-015-3124-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10067-015-3124-6

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