Hylton Menz

La Trobe University · Discipline of Podiatry

Introduction Midfoot osteoarthritis (OA) is a painful and disabling condition. Arch contouring foot orthoses have been recommended for midfoot OA, yet there is no high‐quality evidence from randomised controlled trials to support their use. This clinical trial aims to evaluate the efficacy of arch contouring foot orthoses for midfoot OA. Methods T...

Background Hip osteoarthritis (OA) is a prevalent and burdensome condition that leads to impaired quality of life and a substantial economic burden. Encouraging physical activity, particularly walking, is crucial for OA management, but many individuals with hip OA fail to meet recommended activity levels. Prefabricated contoured foot orthoses have...

Background: Osteoarthritis (OA) affecting the first metatarsophalangeal joint (hallux rigidus) is common and painful. Several non-surgical treatments have been proposed; however, few have been adequately evaluated. Since the original 2010 review, several studies have been published necessitating this update. Objectives: To determine the benefits...

Background Running retraining is commonly used in the management of medial tibial stress syndrome (MTSS) but evidence for its effectiveness is lacking. The primary aim of this study is to determine if the addition of running retraining to best standard care is beneficial in the management of runners with MTSS. Methods This study is an assessor‐bli...

Background: Footwear, orthoses, and insoles have been shown to influence balance in older adults; however, it remains unclear which features, singular or in combination, are considered optimal. The aim of this scoping review was to identify and synthesise the current evidence regarding how footwear, orthoses, and insoles influence balance in older...

Background Little is known about factors that influence footwear selection by field hockey players. Methods An online survey was used to collect data on participant demographics and physical characteristics, factors influencing footwear selection, perceptions regarding footwear design features on injury and performance, and experiences regarding u...

Introduction: Several footwear characteristics have been shown to affect balance and gait patterns and may therefore influence the risk of falling in older adults. However, attributing a link between footwear and falls is inherently difficult as it often relies on self-report which may be inaccurate. Methods: Archival video recordings of falls t...

Background Burnout is highly prevalent among health practitioners. It negatively impacts job performance, patient care, career retention and psychological well‐being. This study aimed to identify factors associated with burnout among Australian podiatrists. Methods Data were collected from registered podiatrists via four online surveys administere...

Rheumatological conditions are complex and impact many facets of daily life. Management of people with rheumatological conditions can be optimised through multidisciplinary care. However, the current access to nursing and allied health professionals in Australia is unknown. A cross-sectional study of nursing and allied health professionals in Austr...

Objective We aimed to explore the relationship between bone shape and radiographic severity in individuals with first metatarsophalangeal joint osteoarthritis (first MTP joint OA). Methods Weightbearing lateral and dorsoplantar radiographs were obtained for the symptomatic foot of 185 participants (105 females, aged 22 to 85 years) with clinically...

Background Hallux valgus is a common and disabling condition. This randomised pilot and feasibility trial aimed to determine the feasibility of conducting a parallel group randomised trial to evaluate the effectiveness of a nonsurgical intervention for reducing pain associated with hallux valgus. Methods Twenty-eight community-dwelling women with...

Objective This study compared radiographic measures of foot structure between people with and without symptomatic radiographic midfoot osteoarthritis (OA). Methods This was a cross‐sectional study of adults aged 50 years and older registered with four UK general practices who reported foot pain in the past year. Bilateral weightbearing dorsoplanta...

Background Foot orthoses and footwear interventions are advocated for the management of lower limb musculoskeletal conditions including the hip, but much of the research is focused on knee disorders. The aim of this systematic review was to synthesise the literature that investigates the use of foot orthoses or footwear in people with hip‐related p...

Background People with plantar heel pain (PHP) have reduced foot and ankle muscle function, strength and size, which is frequently treated by muscle strengthening exercises. However, there has been little investigation of what exercises are used and there is no sound evidence base to guide practice. This study aimed to develop a consensus-driven pr...

Objective Hallux valgus has a detrimental impact on health‐related quality of life. Education is crucial for the management of all musculoskeletal conditions, although no previous research has evaluated the sources and quality of education accessed by patients with hallux valgus. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate the perceptions and attitudes of indi...

Background Podiatrists’ earnings have an important influence on workforce dynamics. This includes the profession’s ability to attract and retain workers so the population’s healthcare needs can be met. This study aimed to describe financial characteristics of podiatry work and factors relating to a sense of financial security. Methods This was a c...

Background Understanding the dynamics of the podiatry workforce is essential for the sustainability of the profession. This study aimed to describe the podiatry workforce characteristics and identify factors associated with rural practice location. Methods We used an exploratory descriptive design from data obtained during cross sectional study: P...

Objective: Adults with foot symptoms (i.e., pain, aching, or stiffness) may be at increased risk of reduced time to all-cause mortality. The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether foot symptoms are independently associated with all-cause mortality in older adults. Methods: We analyzed longitudinal data from 2613 participants from the John...

Background: Footwear has been shown to influence balance and is an important consideration in relation to the prevention of falls. However, it remains unclear as to what type of footwear is most beneficial for balance in older people: sturdy, supportive footwear, or minimalist footwear to maximise plantar sensory input. The objectives of this stud...

Background Foot and ankle involvement is common and debilitating in rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases (RMDs), but outcomes in research and clinical practice are often inconsistently measured and may not be meaningful to patients. Outcome inconsistency contributes to lack of high-quality evidence to determine the effectiveness of foot and ankle...

BACKGROUND: Nearly 40% of adults suffer from osteoarthritis of the knee, with the patellofemoral joint (PFJ) being the most affected knee compartment. Despite its prevalence, a clinical or radiographic definition of patellofemoral osteoarthritis (PFOA) has yet to be agreed upon. What little research that has been conducted on PFOA has not consisten...

Background Podiatrists’ earnings have an important influence on workforce dynamics. This includes the profession’s ability to retain workers so the populations healthcare needs can be met. This study aimed to describe factors relating to Victorian podiatrists’ financial characteristics and security. Methods This was a cross sectional study using d...

Objective To determine whether neuropathic pain is a feature of first metatarsophalangeal (MTP) joint osteoarthritis (OA). Methods A total of 98 participants (mean ± SD age 57.4 ± 10.3 years) with symptomatic radiographic first MTP joint OA completed the PainDETECT questionnaire (PD‐Q), which has 9 questions regarding the intensity and quality of...

Objectives: Foot and ankle involvement is common in rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases, yet high-quality evidence assessing the effectiveness of treatments for these disorders is lacking. The Outcome Measures in Rheumatology (OMERACT) Foot and Ankle Working Group is developing a core outcome set for use in clinical trials and longitudinal obse...

Objectives: This study aimed to determine outcome domains of importance to patients living with foot and ankle disorders in rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases (RMDs), by exploring the symptoms and impact of these disorders reported in existing qualitative studies. Methods: Six databases were searched from inception to March 2022. Studies wer...

Objective The objectives of this study were to: (i) review and provide a narrative synthesis of three-dimensional (3D) foot surface scanning methodological and statistical analysis protocols, and (ii) develop a set of recommendations for standardising the reporting of 3D foot scanning approaches. Methods A systematic search of the SCOPUS, ProQuest...

This systematic review aims to investigate the efficacy of non-surgical interventions for midfoot osteoarthritis (OA). Key databases and trial registries were searched from inception to 23 February 2023. All trials investigating non-surgical interventions for midfoot OA were included. Quality assessment was performed using the National Institutes o...

Background/Aims Foot and ankle involvement is common in rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases (RMDs), but high-quality evidence is lacking to determine the effectiveness of foot and ankle treatments. Heterogeneity in the outcomes used across clinical trials in this area hinders the ability to compare study findings, and some outcomes are not alway...

Background Footwear has been shown to influence balance and is an important consideration in relation to the prevention of falls. However, it remains unclear as to what type of footwear is most beneficial for balance in older people: sturdy, supportive footwear, or minimalist footwear to maximise plantar sensory input. The objectives of this study...

Background Maldistribution of podiatrists limits capacity to address the footcare needs of the population. Understanding factors that impact recruitment and retention of Australian podiatrists is a key solution. The primary aim of this study was to describe factors related to rural podiatry work, and overall professional retention amongst Australia...

Background Foot and ankle involvement is common in rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases (RMDs). High-quality evidence is lacking to determine the effectiveness of treatments for these disorders. Heterogeneity in the outcomes used across clinical trials and observational studies hinders the ability to compare findings, and some outcomes are not al...

Background Fear of falling is multifactorial in etiology and is associated with falls. It has been demonstrated that foot problems increase the risk of falls in older people. Therefore, the objective of this study was to investigate the associations of foot and ankle characteristics with fear of falling and mobility in community-dwelling older peop...

Background Hallux valgus is a common and disabling condition. This randomised pilot and feasibility trial aims to determine the feasibility of conducting a fully-powered parallel group randomised trial to evaluate the effectiveness of a multifaceted non-surgical intervention for reducing pain associated with hallux valgus. Methods Twenty-eight com...

Objectives To identify distinct foot pain trajectories over 7 years and examine their associations with potential prognostic factors. Methods Adults ages ≥50 years and registered with 4 general practices in North Staffordshire, UK were mailed a baseline health survey. Those reporting current or recent foot pain were invited to attend a research as...

Objective: To explore consultation patterns, management practices, and costs of foot, ankle, and leg problems in Australian primary care. Study design: We analyzed data from the Bettering the Evaluation and Care of Health program, April 2000 to March 2016. Foot, ankle, and leg problems were identified using the International Classification of Pr...

This study aimed to compare health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in people with and without plantar heel pain (PHP). This was a cross-sectional observational study that compared 50 adult participants with PHP to 25 participants without PHP who were matched for age, sex and body mass index (BMI). HRQoL measures included a generic measure, the Shor...

Introduction The aim of this randomised feasibility trial is to determine the feasibility of conducting an adequately powered randomised controlled trial (RCT) investigating the efficacy of prefabricated contoured foot orthoses in people with hip osteoarthritis (OA). The secondary aims of the trial are to compare the effect of prefabricated contour...

Background Ankle osteoarthritis (OA) is a debilitating health condition that is increasing in prevalence. Currently, there are no evidence-based guidelines for managing ankle OA. One of the current challenges to establishing guidelines is the lack of a widely agreed-upon set of outcome measures that are consistently used in ankle OA research. Witho...

Objective Hallux valgus is a common and disabling condition. The objective of the present study was to identify factors associated with hallux valgus incidence and progression. Methods Participants were from a population‐based prospective cohort study, the Clinical Assessment Study of the Foot. All adults ages ≥50 years who were registered at 4 ge...

Background Foot disorders may limit independence and reduce quality of life for older adults. Obesity is a risk factor for foot conditions; both mechanical load and metabolic effects may contribute to these conditions. This study determined cross-sectional associations between inflammatory markers and foot disorders. Methods Participants were draw...

Objective To examine the effects of shoe‐stiffening inserts on lower extremity kinematics in individuals with first metatarsophalangeal (MTP) joint osteoarthritis (OA). Methods Forty‐eight individuals with radiographically confirmed first MTP joint OA (24 male and 24 female; mean ± SD age 57.8 ± 10.5 years) were randomized to receive either shoe‐s...

Objectives To explore children’s foot, ankle and leg consultation patterns and management practices in Australian primary care. Design Cross-sectional, retrospective study. Setting Australia Bettering the Evaluation and Care of Health program dataset. Participants Data were extracted for general practitioners (GPs) and patients < 18 years from A...

Objective To conduct a systematic review and meta‐analysis investigating the effectiveness of nonsurgical interventions for hallux valgus (HV). Methods Medline, CINAHL, Embase, and the Cochrane Library were searched to April 2020, including parallel‐group and crossover studies investigating nonsurgical interventions for HV. Two reviewers independe...

Background: Activity and footwear may be associated with plantar heel pain (PHP), however both factors have rarely been investigated. The aim of this study was to investigate activity and footwear characteristics in PHP while controlling for important confounders. Method: This cross-sectional observational study compared 50 participants with PHP...

Background Patellofemoral pain (PFP) affects one-quarter of adolescents, yet there are few evidence-informed recommendations to treat PFP in this population. HAPPi Kneecaps! is a randomised, controlled, participant- and assessor-blind, parallel-group feasibility trial of shoe inserts for adolescents with PFP. The aim of this qualitative study was t...

Objective To compare the sensitivity of alternative case finding approaches for the identification of foot osteoarthritis (OA) based on the La Trobe radiographic atlas. Methods This was a cross‐sectional study of 533 adults age ≥50 years with foot pain in the past year. Weightbearing dorsoplantar (DP) and lateral radiographs were taken of both fee...

Background Hallux valgus is a common and disabling condition. This randomised pilot and feasibility trial aims to determine the feasibility of conducting a fully-powered parallel group randomised trial to evaluate the effectiveness of a multifaceted non-surgical intervention for reducing pain associated with hallux valgus. Methods Twenty-eight com...

Background Ankle osteoarthritis (OA) is a debilitating health condition that is increasing in prevalence. Currently, there are no evidence-based guidelines for managing ankle OA. One of the current challenges to establishing guidelines is the lack of a widely agreed-upon set of outcome measures that are consistently used in ankle OA research. Witho...

This chapter provides an overview of the epidemiology and management of common foot problems in older people and updates recently published reviews on this topic. Foot problems have a significant detrimental impact on mobility and health status in older people and a sizeable subsequent burden on the healthcare system. The management of foot problem...

Objectives To compare contoured foot orthoses to sham flat insoles for first MTP joint OA walking pain. Design This was a participant- and assessor-blinded, sham-controlled, multi-centre randomized clinical trial set in community-based private practices. Eighty-eight adults aged >45 years with symptomatic radiographic first MTP joint OA were rando...

Objectives To explore children’s foot, ankle and leg consultation patterns and management practices in Australian primary care. Design Cross-sectional, retrospective study Setting Australia Bettering the Evaluation and Care of Health program dataset. Participants Data were extracted for GPs and patients ≤18 years from April 2000 to March 2016 in...

The high prevalence and significant burden of osteoarthritis (OA) is well known. But it is becoming apparent that OA research efforts do not necessarily match disease prevalence or disability. The International Foot and Ankle Osteoarthritis Consortium is a new international organization that seeks to highlight a major and overlooked problem in OA r...

Background: Foot ankle, and leg problems are highly prevalent in the general population. The objective of this study was to explore consultation patterns, management practices and costs of foot, ankle, and leg problems in Australian primary care. Methods: We analysed encounter data from the Bettering the Evaluation and Care of Health program, April...

Introduction: Access to healthcare services should be equitable no matter where you live. However, the podiatry needs of rural populations are poorly addressed, partly because of workforce maldistribution. Encouraging emerging podiatrists to work in rural areas is a key solution. The aims were to explore (1) recently graduated podiatrists' percept...

Objective To summarise the available evidence relating to the diagnosis, epidemiology, burden, outcome assessment and treatment of foot and ankle osteoarthritis (OA) and to develop an agenda to guide future research. Method Members of the International Foot and Ankle Osteoarthritis Consortium compiled a narrative summary of the literature which fo...

Objective Patellofemoral joint (PFJ) pathology is prevalent and associated with significant morbidity. Although protocols for PFJ radiograph acquisition exist, standardized methods to acquire radiographs of the PFJ have yet to be universally adopted, resulting in variances in patient positioning, weight-bearing status, knee flexion angle, and beam...

Background Patellofemoral pain (PFP) affects one-quarter of adolescents, yet there are few evidence-informed recommendations to treat PFP in this population. HAPPi Kneecaps! is a randomised, controlled, participant- and assessor-blind, parallel-group feasibility trial of shoe inserts for adolescents with PFP. The aim of this qualitative study was t...

Background Hallux valgus (HV) is a common condition causing substantial morbidity. Radiographic assessment is the gold standard for grading severity but is not always feasible in clinical/research settings. HV line-drawings, consisting of five drawings for each foot depicting a sequential increase in HV angle of 15°, have been clinically validated...

Background On the 19th of January, 2020, the Chief Medical Officer of Australia issued a statement about a novel coronavirus, or SARS-CoV-2. Since this date, there have been variable jurisdictional responses, including lockdowns, and restrictions on podiatry practice. This study aimed to describe impacts of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic on the podiatry p...

Objective To provide a narrative synthesis of the research literature pertaining to footwear comfort, including definitions, measurement scales, footwear design features, and physiological and psychological factors. Methods A systematic search was conducted which yielded 101 manuscripts. The most relevant manuscripts were selected based on the pre...

Background Patellofemoral pain (PFP) affects one-third of adolescents and can persist into adulthood, negatively impacting health and quality of life. Foot orthoses are a recommended treatment for adults with PFP, but have not been evaluated in adolescents. The primary objective was to determine the feasibility of conducting a full-scale randomised...

This third edition of a trusted resource brings together the latest literature across multiple fields to facilitate the understanding and prevention of falls in older adults. Thoroughly revised by a multidisciplinary team of authors, it features a new three-part structure covering epidemiology and risk factors for falls, strategies for prevention a...

This third edition of a trusted resource brings together the latest literature across multiple fields to facilitate the understanding and prevention of falls in older adults. Thoroughly revised by a multidisciplinary team of authors, it features a new three-part structure covering epidemiology and risk factors for falls, strategies for prevention a...

This third edition of a trusted resource brings together the latest literature across multiple fields to facilitate the understanding and prevention of falls in older adults. Thoroughly revised by a multidisciplinary team of authors, it features a new three-part structure covering epidemiology and risk factors for falls, strategies for prevention a...

This third edition of a trusted resource brings together the latest literature across multiple fields to facilitate the understanding and prevention of falls in older adults. Thoroughly revised by a multidisciplinary team of authors, it features a new three-part structure covering epidemiology and risk factors for falls, strategies for prevention a...

Objectives The objectives of this study were to examine the treatment preferences and use of diagnostic imaging by Australian allied health professionals in the management of midportion Achilles tendinopathy. Design Cross-sectional survey of Australian allied health professionals. Methods An online survey was distributed to registered Australian...

Introduction Achilles tendinopathy (AT) is a common and disabling musculoskeletal condition. First-line management involving Achilles tendon loading exercise with, or without, other modalities may not resolve the problem in up to 44% of cases. Many people receive injections. Yet there are no injection treatments with demonstrated long-term efficacy...