Rocker Bottom Shoes

Ankle arthritis is a painful, disabling condition that usually results from injury to the ankle. Military personnel regularly perform demanding physical tasks and often sustain serious injury to their lower limbs, which may explain why veterans are at higher risk of developing ankle arthritis than non-veterans. Severe cases of ankle arthritis can be treated by fusing the ankle joint, but fusion often causes arthritis to develop at other joints of the foot. This study aims to develop a rocker bottom shoe that reduces the range of motion and loading of the joints of the foot and ankle in patients with ankle arthritis or fusion. Veterans with these conditions are expected to benefit from the development of this shoe because it may prevent or delay further arthritis of the foot and ankle and make it easier to walk. This could improve the comfort, mobility, quality of life, and return to work of veterans with ankle arthritis or fusion.