Heat‐moldable shoes for management of forefoot problems in rheumatoid arthritis

Heat‐moldable shoes (Thermold) were created as an alternative to the regular extra‐depth shoe (Extra Depth) to be used on patients whose painful forefoot conditions can not be easily ameliorated. We report our preliminary experience using this heat‐moldable, extra‐depth shoe for the treatment of painful forefeet in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Twenty‐five patients with RA, who were classified as American Congress of Rheumatology (ACR) functional classes II and III, were selected to wear heatmoldable, extra‐depth shoes on an experimental basis. All patients had been complaining of being unable to wear normal shoes or extra‐depth shoes because of pain in the forefeet. Patients were interviewed after a period of wearing their shoes (average, 5 months) to determine their level of satisfaction. All patients reported that the heat‐moldable shoes helped relieve the pain in their feet. Eighty percent of the patients reported they walked better. It appears that the heat‐moldable shoe may offer an advantage over other extra‐depth shoes in patients who have moderate to severe involvement of their forefeet with RA.