Foot orthoses showed possible benefits for low back pain in low-quality evidence
A review of randomized trials found lower pain and disability scores, but benefit size, durability, and safety remain unclear from the abstract.
Based on the published abstract. The full paper may contain additional methods, results and limitations.
The 30-second takeaway
The pooled trials reported statistically significant improvements in pain and disability with foot orthoses compared with controls. However, the evidence was rated low quality, and the abstract gives no effect sizes to show whether improvements were meaningful to patients. This supports cautious interpretation rather than a general conclusion that orthoses reliably help low back pain.
Evidence quality was low and studies differed. Subgroup wording is inconsistent with the accompanying significance threshold. Missing effect sizes and follow-up durations limit interpretation of the main findings.
What researchers found
Low back pain and disability
Foot orthoses versus controls; follow-up duration and magnitudes of improvement are not reported in the abstract.
Significance leaves magnitude unanswered
The pooled analysis favored orthoses for pain and disability, but statistical significance alone does not describe the size of those changes. Without effect estimates, the abstract cannot show how noticeable the average improvement was.
Safety reporting has limits
No included study reported adverse events related to orthoses. That absence of reporting does not establish safety, because the abstract does not explain how harms were sought or how long participants were observed.
The original publication
Effect of foot orthoses on pain and disability in patients with low back pain: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.
Lin Z, Cheng J, Hua L et al.
Disabil Rehabil · 2026
- PubMed ID
- 40844962
- Record checked
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