Do functional foot orthoses change the range of motion of the first metatarsophalangeal joint of hallux limitus/hallux rigidus?

A prospective, randomised, single blinded study was undertaken on thirty participants to determine if custom orthoses were more effective than cast and foot adjusted orthoses in the treatment of hallux limitus. Results using a paired t test indicated that neither the custom orthoses (P=0.15) nor the cast and foot adjusted orthoses (p=0.15) used in the study had any statistically significant effect on the range of sagittal plane motion of the first metatarsophalangeal joint in stance. These findings were supported by the Mann-Whitney test (U=109.5, p=0.9 left foot, U=108, p=0.85 right foot). Thus the role of either modality when prescribed with the intention of restricting sagittal plane motion of the first metatarsophalangeal joint in hallux limitus or hallux rigidus is cast into doubt.