Ana Belen Ortega-Avila

University of Malaga | UMA · Department of Nursing and Podiatry

Background: Living in poverty negatively affects the biopsychosocial health of older adults. Nursing students need to develop competence to promote health and self-care behaviours amongst older adults living in poverty in high-income countries. Aim: To explore nursing students’ perceptions of a service learning programme aimed at promoting health a...

Abstract: Background: This study examines the effect of two types of custom-made foot orthoses (CFOs) in patients with structural hallux limitus (SHL). Methods: In this quasi-experimental, repeated measures study, 24 participants with SHL were sampled. Two CFOs—cut-out CFO and anterior stabilizer element (AFSE) CFO—were compared using minimalist SA...

Background: It is important to highlight the advantages of ultrasound in assessing muscular and tendinous behavior due to its non-invasive nature and capacity for dynamic studies. However, evaluating tendons via ultrasound can be challenging given the complexity of anisotropic phenomena related to collagen fiber arrangement. This study aims to vali...

The first metatarsophalangeal joint (MTPJ) and the first ray are crucial in walking, particularly during propulsion. Limitation in this joint’s sagittal plane motion, known as hallux limitus, can cause compensatory movements in other joints. Some studies assessed the impact of various foot orthoses designs on the foot biomechanics; however, a compr...

Approximately 90% of patients with arthritis exhibit forefoot deformities, including deformities within the metatarsophalangeal and proximal interphalangeal joints. Current pharmacological treatment with Disease Modifying Antirheumatic Drugs (DMARDs) consists of two groups: synthetic drugs (sDMARDs) and biological drugs (bDMARDs). The objective of...

Background and Objectives: The Foot Function Index (FFI) is a widely recognized patient-reported outcome measure (PROM) for assessing foot functionality and its impact on quality of life in individuals with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). This study aimed to observe the behavior of the tool in the Spanish population with RA, optimize the tool, and check...

Objective Large numbers of people are subject to alterations and pathologies in the foot. To quantify how these problems of foot function affect the quality of life, clinicians and researchers have developed measures such as the Foot Function Index (FFI). Our aim is to determine the methodological quality of the FFI including adaptations to other l...

Rheumatoid arthritis causes progressive joint destruction in the long term, causing a deterioration of the foot and ankle. A clinical practice guideline has been created with the main objective of providing recommendations in the field of podiatry for the conservative management of rheumatoid arthritis. Thus, healthcare professionals involved in fo...

Background Foot pain has been associated to factors like: fat, body mass index, age increased, female gender and the presence of pathologies. Although evidence is limited. The purpose is to determine the predictive factors for foot pain in the adult population. Methods From January to December 2021, 457 patients were > 18 years, gave signed inform...

Background: The main aim of this study is to perform a cross-cultural adaptation and validation of the Visual Analogue Scale for the Foot and Ankle (VASFA) questionnaire, creating a Spanish-language version (VASFA-Sp), and to determine the measurement properties of this instrument. Methods: VASFA was cross-culturally translated into Spanish foll...

Background: The foot is one of the anatomical structures of the body most affected in rheumatoid arthritis (RA), associated with the disability of patients, even more during COVID-19. The aim of this study was to analyse whether the period of physical inactivity during COVID-19 is an influential factor on health-related quality of life and foot pa...

Objetive: Chronic ankle instability is generally associated with ankle sprain. Its consequences can be measured by means of patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs). The aim of this review is to identify the PROMs specifically available for chronic ankle instability and to evaluate their methodological quality and that of the cross-cultural adapt...

Unlabelled: The use of lower limb tests in the paediatric population is of great importance for diagnostic evaluations. The aim of this study is to understand the relationship between the tests performed on the feet and ankles, covering all of its planes, and the spatiotemporal parameters of children's gait. Methods: It is a cross-sectional obse...

The main objective of the present study was to determine the relationship between kinesiophobia and pain (general and foot pain), foot function, and disease activity in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). A total of 124 interviews were carried out with participants with RA. Participants were recruited from the Hospital Universitario Virgen de...

Aim: The aim of this study was to explore experiences of people with rheumatoid arthritis during and after COVID-19 induced quarantine in terms of physical activity and health status. Background: Rheumatoid arthritis affects multiple facets of the person, both physically and psychologically. Physical activity is considered a safe and effective i...

Purpose The main aim of this review is to report the effect of different types of in-shoe and barefoot wedges on the distribution of the plantar loading of the human foot. We hypothesise that frontal plane wedges modify this parameter. Methods A systematic review was performed, using the PubMed, CINAHL, Prospero and Scopus databases, consulted fro...

Previous studies involving injury surveillance in badminton players have used nonstandardized injury definitions and data collection methodologies. The purpose of this study was to apply a Delphi method to (1) reach a consensus on an injury definition in badminton and (2) develop a standardized badminton injury report form. An Injury Consensus Grou...

Objective: The aim of this study was to perform a cross-cultural adaption and validation of the Global Pain Scale (GPS) to produce a Spanish-language version (GPS-Sp) and to determine the psychometric properties of this instrument. Methods: The GPS was cross-culturally translated into Spanish following the guidelines of the International Society...

The objective of this study is to analyse differences in the thickness of the patellar (PT) and Achilles tendons (AT) among athletes with different number of meals per day. The design is a cross-sectional, observational study. A total of thirty-six male athletes (with mean age groups ranging from 31 to 40) were recruited and divided into three grou...

Plantar fascia (PF) is a connective tissue made up of mostly type 1 collagen that is subjected to constant loads. This study evaluated the effect of continuous running on tissue stress in the plantar fascia by measuring changes in the thickness of the PF using ultrasound scans. It was a cross-sectional study involving 24 runners from the University...

Aim To assess the concordance between variations in Neuropad® results and the those in different diagnostic criteria of Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy, according to various clinical guidelines. Methods A descriptive observational study was conducted of 111 patients with a confirmed diagnosis of diabetes mellitus. The criteria for inclusion in the...

Background Diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) is one of the most common complications in diabetes mellitus. It is the disorder that most commonly affects the feet of people with diabetes. The aim of the present study is to determine the relationship between DPN and the presence of deformities in the foot. Material and methods A descriptive obser...

Objective: The aim of the study was to analyze the feet of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients, to determine the degree to which both feet were affected, primarily analyzing the severity of RA in both feet looking at structure and morphology, and secondly looking at the symmetry in terms of the anthropometrics and posture. Method: This cross-sect...

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate and classify the types and incidences of foot deformities in patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA). Methods: A cross-sectional study with convenience sample was obtained of 220 patients with foot pain and RA classification criteria (approved by the American College of Rheumatology and the European...

Background: Imaging diagnosis plays a fundamental role in the evaluation and management of injuries suffered in sports activities. Objective: To analyze the differences in the thickness of the Achilles tendon, patellar tendon, plantar fascia, and posterior tibial tendon in the following levels of physical activity: persons who run regularly, per...

Foot pathology in people with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) can have a psychosocial impact, but interventions such as foot orthoses can reduce foot pain, improving physical activity and quality of life. A previous meta-analysis concluded that foot orthoses can relieve pain and disability and enhance patient's well-being. The aim of this study was to ex...

Background and objective: Ninety percent of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) feel foot pain during the disease process. Pharmacological treatment of RA has a systematic effect on the body and includes: Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) and biologics. The objective of our review was to examin...

Objective The study aim was to develop a linguistic-cultural adaptation of the KEZKAK questionnaire to be completed during the practicum of podiatric medical students in Spain, to validate the questionnaire and to evaluate its psychometric properties. Methods The cross-sectional study was carried out in two stages: 1. Cross-cultural adaptation; 2....

Objective The study aim was to cross-culturally adapt the Identification of Functional Ankle Instability (IdFAI) into a Spanish-language version (IdFAI-Sp), which would then be validated and its psychometric properties evaluated for use in possible cases of ankle instability. Methods The cross-cultural adaptation was performed following the guidel...

Objective: The study aim was to cross-culturally adapt the Self-reported Foot and Ankle Score (SEFAS) into Spanish and French-language versions, to validate them and to evaluate their psychometric properties. Methods: The cross-cultural translation from the original SEFAS into French and Spanish was performed in accordance with the guidelines of th...

The aim was to identify conservative treatments available for acute ankle sprain and to evaluate their effectiveness with respect to pain relief and short-term recovery of functional capacity. A systematic review of the relevant literature was conducted via a data search of the PROSPERO, PubMed, Scopus, CINAHL, PyscINFO and SPORTDiscus databases, f...

Aim This paper determines whether patients with and without Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy use suitable footwear, taking into account that these persons are subject to a significant loss of sensitivity in the feet. Methods Cross-sectional observational study was conducted of 108 participants with diabetes mellitus. Inclusion criteria were at least...

Introduction: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) involves changes to foot structure and function, and there is an association between RA and foot pain. This pain affects those patient's physical activity and experience of daily living. While there is clinical evidence for the value of foot orthoses (FO) on foot pain, there is a wide range of FO available a...

Objective: Our study aim is to identify and describe the definitions used for different types of running shoes. In addition, we highlight the existence of gaps in these concepts and propose possible new approaches. Methods: This review was undertaken in line with the guidelines proposed by Green et al., based on a literature search (until December...

The main aims of this study were, firstly, to investigate the frequency, location, and severity of injuries in amateur badminton players, and then to determine risk factors that may be associated with a higher incidence of injuries. A cross-sectional study, composed of 150 players drawn from the 2018 BWF European Senior Championships, was analyzed....

Objective The aim of this study is to identify foot health factors related to the quality of life in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Setting In this cross-sectional study, a total of 293 subjects were analysed, 229 of whom were in the RA group and 64 in the control group. In the RA group, 173 patients were female, and 50 in the control gr...

Background The aim of this study is to assess the prevalence of blisters on the foot during hiking and the factors associated with this condition. Material and methods A cross-sectional observational comparative study was conducted of 315 patients treated at two hostels, located on the Way of Saint James, in northern Spain. The study participants...

The aim was to identify effective surgical treatments for patients with rheumatoid arthritis in the foot and/or ankle. A systematic review of the literature was conducted via a data search of the PubMed, Scopus, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), and PROSPERO databases, from their inception until June 2019. Only non-...

Background: Juvenile idiopathic arthritis(JIA) is the most common rheumatic disease in childhood. The part of the body most commonly affected, and where cysts are most likely to form, is in the small joints of the foot. Aim: To identify self-reported outcome measures specific to the foot and ankle in patients with JIA and to investigate the meth...

Diabetic neuropathy is defined as the presence of symptoms and signs of peripheral nerve dysfunction in diabetics. The aim of this study is to develop a predictive logistic model to identify the risk of losing protective sensitivity in the foot. This descriptive cross‐sectional study included 111 patients diagnosed with diabetes mellitus. Participa...

Background The aim of this study was to observe the pressure changes in the felt padding used to off-load pressure from the first metatarsal head, the effects obtained by different designs, and the loss of effectiveness over time. Method With a study population of 17 persons, two types of 5-mm semicompressed felt padding were tested: one was C-sha...

Objective: To review the different versions of The Victorian Institute of Sports Assessment - Achilles questionnaire for Achilles tendinopathy to evaluate its psychometric properties and the methodological quality of these studies. Methods: This study is a systematic review. Setting: A search was conducted in the PubMed, SCOPUS, CINAHL, Physio...

Objective To identify self-reported outcome measures specific to the foot and ankle in patients with rheumatoid arthritis and to investigate the methodological quality and psychometric properties of these measures. Method A systematic review focusing on patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Setting The search was conducted in the PubMed, SCOPUS, CI...

Aims: The aims of this study are to assess the variability in the prevalence of diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN), according to the diagnostic and clinical guidelines used. Methods: A cross-sectional observational study was conducted of 111 patients with diabetes mellitus. The presence/absence of DPN was determined according to 12 different c...

Background Foot problems and pain are common in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Patient-reported outcome measures provide a standardized method of capturing patients’ perspectives of their functional status and wellbeing. There are many instruments specific to people with feet affected by rheumatoid arthritis but knowledge of their psychometric...

In recent years, the popularity of running has boomed and the number of women runners has risen sharply. However, little research has been conducted into the running cycle as concerns female runners. The aim of this study is to analyse, in women runners, the relationships between spatiotemporal parameters in the running cycle, the heel drop in runn...

Background: Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a chronic and complex disease, which is a major cause of morbidity and mortality and affects all age groups. It commonly produces secondary effects on the foot, often making daily activities impossible. Patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) provide a standardised method of obtaining patients’ outlooks on th...

For thousands of years, shoes have been worn to protect the feet from injury, and the proper choice and use of footwear are directly relevant to foot health, especially that of children. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between shoe-related factors (type and frequency of use) and the prevalence of valgus foot in children. This...

Background: Planovalgus foot prevalence estimates vary widely (0.6%-77.9%). Among the many factors that may influence planovalgus foot development, much attention has been given to body mass index, especially that of children's feet; factors related to psychomotor development have been less studied. We sought to determine the presence of planovalg...

Background: Epidemiological studies consistently report a 90% prevalence of foot pain. Mechanical and other non-pharmacological interventions such as orthoses and footwear can play an important role in managing foot pathology in patients whose systemic disease is controlled. The effectiveness of treatment with insoles has been examined in various...

Ulcers are the main cause of hospitalisation and clinical complications in patients with diabetes. We analyse the length and cost of hospital stay of patients with diabetic foot ulcers, taking into consideration that hospitalisation and, if necessary, amputation represent the greatest area of expense to the healthcare system for such patients. This...

Background: The aim of this study is to explore the changes in ground reaction force (GRF) produced by custom-made weight-bearing and nonweight-bearing foot orthoses and by a prefabricated foot orthosis, in the control of the pronated foot. Methods: Thirty-nine participants were recruited. All were in good health, aged 18 to 25 years, and presen...

Background The presence of foot pain and deformity is ubiquitous in Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA). Epidemiological studies consistently suggest a prevalence of foot pain of 90%.¹ Weight gain, high levels of fatigue and deformities such us hallux valgus and metatarsus primus varus, are very frequent too.² Objectives The aim of this study was to analyse...

This aim of this study is to observe the differences in foot posture and the angle of the knee according to different physical activities. Seventy-eight football players and 72 swimmers were recruited, and in each case a foot posture analysis, based on the foot posture index (FPI), was conducted and the Q angle of the knee was determined. The follo...

Background The Foot and Ankle Ability Measure (FAAM) is a Patient Reported Outcome (PRO) commonly used to determine the effectiveness of therapeutic interventions for patients with foot and ankle pathologies and associated impairments of body function and structure, activity limitations, and participation restrictions. The aim of this study was to...

Background Physical activity during childhood can be beneficial in the long term. However, this practice can influence the child’s physiological development. The aim of this study was to determine whether the practice of soccer, in moderation, could be a risk factor for the inadequate development of the lower limb. Methods The study group was comp...

This study compares scalpel debridement versus salicylic acid patches in the treatment of plantar callosities. A randomized clinical trial (ACTRN12614000591651) was performed with 62 patients, divided into two intervention groups. Group A received treatment with salicylic acid patches (Callívoro Marthand®) and group B underwent scalpel debridement...

Background: Of all of the lower-extremity injuries with multifactorial causes, heel pain represents the most frequent reason for visits to health-care professionals. Managing patients with heel pain can be very difficult. The purpose of this research was to identify key variables that can influence foot health in patients with heel pain. Methods:...

Introduction: Plantar callosities are a common cause of pain in the forefoot and also a cause of alterations in plantar pressure. Mechanical debridement with a scalpel can relieve pain and increase functional capacity. Objective: The aim of the study was to analyse if debridement of plantar callosities and corns modify walking. Methods: Thirty four...