large prospective randomized controlled trial (level-1 evidence) that studied the effects of foot orthoses on the prevention of injuries in the feet and lower extremities of military officer cadets during their basic training (Franklyn-Miller A, Wilson C, Bilzon J, McCrory P: Foot orthoses in the prevention of injury in initial military training. A randomized controlled trial. Am J Sports Med, on AJSM PreView, 11/1/10). This study was performed at the Britannia Royal Naval College in Dartmouth, Devon, UK.

A total of 400 subjects were risk-assessed and then randomized into two cohort groups: 1) recruits that received customized foot orthoses, and 2) recruits that did not receive orthoses. Both cohort groups were followed up for injury through their basic training at the seven week period. Results from the study showed that the group of 200 cadets that received orthoses sustained 21 injuries in total (1 injury per 4,666 hours of training), while the control group (no orthoses) of 200 cadets sustained 61 injuries in total (1 injury per 1,600 hours of training) (P<.0001).

Therefore, this study clearly demonstrated that the group of military cadets that did not receive foot orthoses for their basic training were 2.9 times more likely to suffer injury to their feet and lower extremities than the group of military cadets that did receive custom foot orthoses before their basic training. This study will add significantly to the growing body of scientific evidence of the therapeutic benefit of foot orthoses for the prevention and treatment of foot and lower extremity injury.


InMotion Foot & Ankle SpecialistsDr. Bruce Werber10900 N. Scottsdale RoadSuite 604Scottsdale, AZ 85254480-948-2111www.InMotionFootandAnkle.cominmotionfootandankle@gmail.com