Changes in load bearing in the rheumatoid foot.

A study of peak force exerted under areas of the foot was made in 27 patients with rheumatoid disease and in 30 normal persons. Patients were found to exert considerably less force under their toes and under the first metatarsal head and more force under the 3 outer metatarsal heads. It was possible to correlate these changes with increasing clinical and radiological severity.