Assessment of Foot and Ankle in Female Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Morphological and Isokinetic Study

The purpose of our study is to investigate the effects of rheumatoid arthritis disease (RA) over ankle isokinetic strength and foot morphometric dimensions in women. 60 RA diagnosed patients and 60 healthy control similar with these patients' age, gender, body mass index (VKI) and dominant extremity were taken under review. Foot and ankle morphometric measurements and isokinetic strength measurement were performed to all the individuals participating in the study. Disease Activity Score in 28 joints (DAS 28) and Foot Function Index (FFI) were carried out in RA group and duration of the disease was recorded. Foot length and lateral foot length values were found bigger and toe length values smaller in RA patients relatively to the healthy persons. Caput ossis metatarsi I and V heights were higher in RA patients in comparison with healthy persons. Bimalleoler perimeter measurement value was found greater in RA patients. Malleolus medialis and lateralis height values measured in RA patients were determined to be lesser in comparison with healthy persons. Besides, I. metatarsophalangeal angle value in RA patients was discovered to be greater relatively to healthy persons. Values of RA patients at ankle isokinetic strength measurement were lower than healthy persons. Patients with RA were separated into three groups as remission, nominal disease activity and moderate disease activity. Disease duration, FFI scores and isokinetic measurement parameters values did not show significant difference among these groups. Negative significant correlations were detected among isokinetic strength values, DAS28 scores and FFI values. Evidences obtained at the end of our study indicated RA disease causes alterations in foot morphology and significant decrease in ankle muscle strength.