Table 2

Primary outcomes at baseline and follow-up.


Group


Primary outcome measures
Stretching – mean (SD)
Control – mean (SD)
Adjusted mean difference between groups (95% CI)
P-value

'First-step' pain*




     Baseline
70.9 (± 23.0)
75.8 (± 19.1)


     Follow-up
51.1 (± 29.1)
62.5 (± 29.5)


     Mean change
-19.8 (± 26.0)
-13.2 (± 25.2)
-7.9 (-18.3 to 2.6)
0.138
Foot painΨ




     Baseline
34.0 (± 21.5)
31.7 (± 17.8)


     Follow-up
50.9 (± 23.1)
50.8 (± 26.4)


     Mean change
16.9 (± 20.4)
19.2 (± 21.6)
-1.6 (-10.1 to 6.9)
0.709
Foot functionΨ




     Baseline
56.3 (± 24.5)
58.2 (± 24.0)


     Follow-up
72.4 (± 23.6)
66.4 (± 26.2)


     Mean change
16.2 (± 19.5)
8.3 (± 18.5)
7.3 (-0.1 to 14.8)
0.052
General foot healthΨ




     Baseline
30.8 (± 21.7)
31.5 (± 24.4)


     Follow-up
37.3 (± 25.9)
43.3 (± 29.0)


     Mean change
6.5 (± 20.8)
11.7 (± 20.7)
-5.4 (-13.8 to 3.1)
0.211

* Measured using a Visual Analogue Scale (0 to 100 mm – 0 is no pain and 100 is the worst pain).

Ψ Measured using the Foot Health Status Questionnaire (0 to 100 – 0 is the worst foot health and 100 is the best foot health)

Note: The Foot Health Status Questionnaire is 'reverse-scored' compared to the Visual Analogue Scale. In the results above, the negative adjusted mean difference between groups in improvement for the comparison of 'first-step' pain favours stretching because it has lower pain. In comparison, a positive score for the Foot Health Status Questionnaire domains favours the stretching group

Radford et al. BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders 2007 8:36   doi:10.1186/1471-2474-8-36