Table 4 Therapist-administered, advice, analgesic and weight management approaches used to manage a typical patient with first MTP joint OA. Values are expressed as Number (%), where (%) indicates the proportion of respondents indicating they would use an approach from the given category
Approach category | Specific approach | Total Sample | Podiatrists | Physical therapists | p-value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Therapist-administered approaches | Any | 200 (100) | 113 (100) | 87 (100) | NA |
Electrotherapy | 13 (7) | 2 (2) | 11 (13)** | < 0.01 | |
Exercise therapy | 117 (59) | 38 (34) | 79 (91)* | 0.01 | |
Taping or padding | 136 (68) | 76 (67) | 60 (69) | 0.80 | |
Hallux manipulation/mobilization | 99 (50) | 41 (36) | 58 (67)* | < 0.01 | |
Other joint manipulation/mobilization | 45 (23) | 14 (12) | 31 (36)* | < 0.01 | |
Massage | 45 (23) | 11 (10) | 34 (39)* | < 0.01 | |
Injection | 23 (12) | 15 (13) | 8 (9) | 0.37 | |
Trigger point techniques | 33 (17) | 11 (10) | 22 (25)** | < 0.01 | |
Gait re-training | 60 (30) | 9 (8) | 51 (59)* | < 0.01 | |
Stiffening shoe inserts | 25 (13) | 25 (22) | 0 (0)* | < 0.01 | |
Footwear modifications | 89 (45) | 55 (49) | 34 (39) | 0.18 | |
Acupuncture | 23 (12) | 10 (9) | 13 (15) | 0.18 | |
Other | 26 (13) | 19 (17) | 7 (8) | 0.07 | |
Advice approaches | Any | 199 (99) | 112 (99) | 87 (100) | 0.38 |
Reducing activity levels | 26 (13) | 15 (13) | 11 (13) | 0.90 | |
Pacing of activities | 126 (63) | 54 (48) | 72 (83)* | < 0.01 | |
Rest | 44 (22) | 24 (21) | 20 (23) | 0.77 | |
Nutrition | 56 (29) | 20 (18) | 36 (41)* | < 0.01 | |
Use of walking aids | 23 (12) | 7 (6) | 16 (18)** | 0.01 | |
Use of heat/ice | 143 (72) | 74 (66) | 69 (79)*** | 0.03 | |
Avoidance of painful movement/activities | 66 (33) | 44 (39) | 22 (25)*** | 0.04 | |
Footwear advice | 172 (86) | 104 (92) | 68 (78)** | 0.01 | |
Other | 38 (19) | 23 (20) | 15 (17) | 0.58 | |
Analgesia approaches | Any | 174 (87) | 98 (87) | 76 (87) | 0.90 |
Advise to discuss with GP | 135 (78) | 69 (70) | 66 (87)*** | 0.01 | |
Advise to discuss with pharmacist | 49 (28) | 22 (22) | 27 (36) | 0.06 | |
Discuss optimal usage of current medication | 63 (36) | 30 (31) | 33 (43) | 0.08 | |
Discuss/recommend over-the-counter medication | 54 (31) | 41 (42) | 13 (17)* | < 0.01 | |
Discuss/recommend prescription medication | 10 (6) | 8 (8) | 2 (3) | 0.12 | |
Discuss use of alternative medicine (e.g. glucosamine, chondroitin sulphate) | 54 (31) | 38 (39) | 16 (21)*** | 0.01 | |
Other | 6 (3) | 5 (5) | 1 (1) | 0.18 | |
Weight management approaches | Any | 160 (80) | 85 (75) | 75 (86) | 0.05 |
Advice about weight loss | 98 (61) | 42 (49) | 56 (75)** | < 0.01 | |
Deliver a weight loss program | 12 (8) | 1 (1) | 11 (15)** | < 0.01 | |
Refer to a dietician | 68 (43) | 34 (40) | 34 (45) | 0.50 | |
Refer to a weight loss program | 32 (20) | 14 (17) | 18 (24) | 0.24 | |
Other | 35 (22) | 26 (31) | 9 (12)** | < 0.01 |