Baseline characteristics of participants
| Variable | Customised foot orthoses (n=67) | Sham foot orthoses (n=73) |
|---|---|---|
| Age (years) | 43.5 (8.2) | 43.6 (7.6) |
| Sex, n (%) male | 39 (58.2) | 39 (53.4) |
| Height (cm) | 173.8 (8.2) | 172.9 (9.3) |
| Weight (kg) | 87.9 (18.0) | 84.2 (14.9) |
| Body mass index (kg/m2) | 29.1 (5.6) | 28.2 (4.7) |
| Waist circumference (cm) | 96.5 (15.1) | 93.6 (13.7) |
| Hip circumference (cm) | 109.2 (10.5) | 107.7 (9.6) |
| Waist to hip circumference ratio | 0.88 (0.10) | 0.87 (0.08) |
| VISA-A score (/100)* | 61.6 (16.7) | 60.3 (17.2) |
| Side affected, n (left/right/bilateral) | 19/21/27 | 26/24/23 |
| Target side, n (%) left | 34 (50.7) | 38 (52.1) |
| Foot Posture Index score (target side) | 2.4 (3.5) | 2.2 (3.8) |
| Supinated, n (%) | 18 (26.9) | 24 (32.9) |
| Normal, n (%) | 44 (65.7) | 40 (54.8) |
| Pronated, n (%) | 5 (7.5) | 9 (12.3) |
| Comfort of the foot orthoses (mm)† | 95 (32.7) | 110 (25.9) |
| Maximum anteroposterior thickness using musculoskeletal ultrasound (mm) | 8.3 (2.1) | 8.1 (1.7) |
| Duration of symptoms (months) | 29.3 (54.3) | 33.7 (96.3) |
| Education (total years) | 16.7 (8.5) | 16.1 (3.6) |
| Current participation in exercise, n (%) | 46 (68.7) | 57 (78.1) |
| Exercise (total hours per week) | 5.1 (5.8) | 6.2 (6.3) |
| Level of physical activity (PAR)‡, kilocalories per day‡ | 3936 (2124.3) | 3568 (1005.5) |
| Any type of medication, n (%)§ | 33 (49.3) | 38 (52.1) |
Values are mean (SD) unless stated.
*VISA-A, Victorian Institute of Sports Assessment-Achilles questionnaire (0 corresponds to the worst Achilles symptoms and 100 to no symptoms of Achilles tendinopathy).
†Comfort was assessed using a 150 mm visual analogue scale (0 mm corresponds to ‘not comfortable at all’ and 150 mm corresponds to ‘most comfortable imaginable’.
‡PAR, seven-day Physical Activity Recall Questionnaire.
§Medication consumption was self-reported.