Journal of the American Podiatric Medical Association

Background: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune disease frequently associated with significant foot pain, even in early stages. This study aimed to explore how patients with early RA perceive foot pain and its impact on daily activities. Methods: Semi-structured interviews were developed based on the Spanish Foot Function Index (FFI-Sp) in 25 patients with RA of less than five years’ duration. Four key themes emerged: (1) limitations in performing daily activities due to foot-related problems; (2) descriptions of pain, such as burning and throbbing sensations; (3) emotional responses, including frustration and sadness; and (4) perceived changes in mobility, balance, and muscle strength. Results: Patients reported pain as influenced by both intrinsic disease mechanisms and external factors. Conclusions: These findings highlight the early and substantial impact of foot involvement in RA and support the need for multidisciplinary interventions—encompassing orthopaedic care, psychosocial support, and patient education—to improve functional outcomes and quality of life. Level of Evidence: V (Qualitative study).

Background: Childhood is a critical period for neuromotor development, during which footwear may influence the sensory and mechanical context of walking. This study examined whether footwear condition was associated with changes in scalp-level EEG activity during walking in 37 typically developing children aged 6–7 years. Methods: Participants completed repeated 10 m walking trials under three randomized conditions: barefoot, barefoot-style footwear, and conventional structured footwear. EEG was recorded using a mobile 14-channel Emotiv EPOC X system. The primary outcome was the global Theta/Alpha ratio averaged across scalp electrodes. Results: Footwear condition significantly affected the global Theta/Alpha ratio (F (2,72) = 14.57, p < 0.001). Conventional structured footwear produced higher Theta/Alpha values than both barefoot walking and barefoot-style footwear, whereas no significant differences were found between barefoot and barefoot-style conditions. Mean paired differences were 1.08 for conventional versus barefoot and 0.99 for conventional versus barefoot-style footwear. Similar directional effects were observed across electrode groupings. No significant differences were identified in absolute theta, alpha, or beta power, global Beta/Alpha ratio, or Shannon entropy. Conclusions: Conventional structured footwear was associated with increased scalp-level Theta/Alpha activity during walking in children, suggesting possible footwear-related modulation of attentional or motor-control demands.

Subungual osteochondroma most frequently involves the hallux and commonly protrudes medially or dorsally. Atypical plantolaterally protruding subungual osteochondroma of a lesser toe is rare and presents a surgical challenge when associated with nail deformity. Conventional surgical treatment often requires complete nail removal followed by complete marginal mass excision. A 15-year-old male presented with progressive pain and nail deformity of the left fifth toe for 2 years, with a painful hyperkeratotic corn at the plantolateral side. A pedunculated osteochondroma at the plantolateral aspect of the fifth distal phalanx was identified on plain radiographs, computed tomography (CT), and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Using a modified Winograd procedure, complete marginal mass excision, partial nail preservation, and nail fold reconstruction were performed simultaneously, confirmed by histopathological examination. Wound healing was completed 2 weeks postoperatively without complications. At 3-month follow-up, the patient had fully returned to running and basketball with no clinical or radiographic evidence of early recurrence. This case report highlights that atypical plantolaterally protruding subungual osteochondroma of a lesser toe can be managed using a nail-preserving technique, with early functional recovery.