Table 2 Mean, standard deviation, effect size and inter-groups comparisons: minimalist flexible footwear (MFG) and custom orthopaedic insole combined minimalist flexible footwear (COIG) and intra-moments of the intervention: T0 (baseline), T3 and T6 (months) for primary outcomes: pain (EVA), FFI (Foot Function Index) and FPI-6 (Foot Posture Index) in women with plantar calcaneus spur (PCS)

Foot pain (cm)

MFG (1)

9.5 ± 0.8

5.2 ± 1.8

3.5 ± 1.6

8.6–10¹

4.1–6.3²

2.5–4.5³

0.001^{1–2; 1–3}

COIG (2)

9.3 ± 1.0

3.4 ± 2.1

2.5 ± 1.7

8.7–9.8¹

2.2–4.4²

1.5–3.5³

0.011^{1–2; 1–3}

p^#

0.468

0.07

0.118

Comfort footwear (cm)

MFG (1)

7.8 ± 2.1

7.8 ± 1.7

8.2 ± 1.7

6.5–9.1¹

5.9–9.8²

6.6–10³

0.856

COIG (2)

9.0 ± 0.8

8.8 ± 1.5

9.1 ± 1.0

8.5–9.5¹

8.3–10²

9.4–10³

0.790

p^#

0.015

0.038

0.031

Foot Function Index – (FFI)

(0—100)

MFG (1)

82.0 ± 14.6

15.7 ± 1.3

15.0 ± 1.4

72.2–91.3¹

14.3–15.8²

13.7–15.4³

0.010^{1–2; 1–3}

COIG (2)

78.8 ± 11.4

14.1 ± 2.5

13.2 ± 3.3

72.3–85.4¹

12.7–15.6²

11.3–15.0³

0.001^{1–2; 1–3}

CG (3)

24.2 ± 5.1

25.6 ± 6.8

26.3 ± 8.1

20.2–29.6¹

23.5–31.5²

19.3–33.2³

0.773

p*

0.010^1–3;2–3

0.759

0.005^1–3;2–3

Foot Posture Index (FPI-6) Right (total score)

MFG (1)

6.0 ± 2.6

4.9 ± 1.8

4.8 ± 1.0

4.3–7.6¹

3.8–6.0²

4.2–5.4³

0.047^1–3

COIG (2)

6.0 ± 4.1

5.8 ± 2.2

5.1 ± 2.9

3.8–8.4¹

4.6–7.1²

3.4–6.8³

0.034^1–3

CG (3)

3.7 ± 2.2

3.9 ± 2.5

4.0 ± 2.7

3.6–6.5¹

3.9–5.7²

3.4–5.0³

0.988

p*

0.024^1–3;2–3

0.106

0.340

Foot Posture Index (FPI-6) Left (total score)

MFG (1)

6.2 ± 4.9

5.7 ± 4.6

5.5 ± 2.1

4.4–7.7¹

2.9–5.5²

3.6–5.4³

0.045^1–3

COIG (2)

6.0 ± 5.1

5.0 ± 4.8

5.0 ± 2.5

4.6–8.7¹

4.3–6.8²

3.3–5.7³

0.039^1–3

CG (3)

4.7 ± 3.6

4.3 ± 3.0

4.8 ± 2.9

4.6–8.5¹

3.6–6.4²

4.1–6.0³

0.963

p*

0.013^1–3;2–3

0.181

0.564