Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40024905›Full record

ArticleJournal of foot and ankle research2025

Psychological factors associated with pain and function in adults with hallux valgus.

Abdel Kak, Mehak Batra, Bircan Erbas, Sean Sadler, Vivienne Chuter, Jeffery Jenkins, Haydar Ozcan, Damien Lafferty, Ozan Amir, Matthew Cotchett

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Journal of foot and ankle research, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Adaptation and Vulnerability in Chronic Pain: A Study of Profiles Based on Clinical and Psychological Factors.European journal of investigation in health, psychology and education · 2025
    Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors.

Abdel KakSchool of Health Sciences, Western Sydney University, Campbelltown, New South Wales, Australia.
Mehak BatraSchool of Psychology and Public Health, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2273-4948
Bircan ErbasSchool of Psychology and Public Health, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9597-418X
Sean SadlerSchool of Health Sciences, Western Sydney University, Campbelltown, New South Wales, Australia.
Vivienne ChuterSchool of Health Sciences, Western Sydney University, Campbelltown, New South Wales, Australia.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4793-5340
Jeffery JenkinsDiscipline of Podiatry, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia.
Haydar OzcanSydney Foot Surgery, Edgecliff, New South Wales, Australia.
Damien LaffertySchool of Health Sciences, Western Sydney University, Campbelltown, New South Wales, Australia.
Ozan AmirManly Foot Clinic, North Manly, New South Wales, Australia.
Matthew CotchettDepartment of Physiotherapy, Podiatry, Prosthetics and Orthotics, School of Allied Health, Human Services and Sport, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6966-5324

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

introductionPsychological factors are linked to pain and function in various musculoskeletal conditions, but their impact on hallux valgus is unclear. Health-related quality of life declines with increasing severity of hallux valgus, affecting not only foot pain and physical function, but also general health, vitality and mental health. Previous studies have reported inconsistent associations between psychological factors, such as anxiety and depression, and surgical outcomes, which might relate to variability in measurement approaches. Understanding the associations between psychological factors, including anxiety, depression, pain catastrophizing and kinesiophobia, and hallux valgus-related pain and function may inform more holistic pre-operative care. Therefore, we aimed to assess these associations in adults with hallux valgus pre-surgery.

methodsA pre-operative cross-sectional study was conducted with 41 adults scheduled for hallux valgus surgery. Participants completed questionnaires measuring continuous psychological variables: depression, anxiety and stress (Depression Anxiety Stress Scale-21, a tool for general psychological distress), kinesiophobia (Tampa Scale for Kinesiophobia, which assesses fear of movement associated with pain) and pain catastrophizing (Pain Catastrophizing Scale, a tool used to evaluate maladaptive pain-coping strategies). Continuous outcomes were evaluated using the Manchester-Oxford Foot Questionnaire for foot function, pain and social interaction. Multiple linear regressions explored the associations between these psychological factors and the outcomes.

resultsWhen all exposure variables were considered simultaneously, pain catastrophizing emerged as a significant predictor of foot pain and foot function. A one-unit increase in the pain catastrophizing score was associated with a 1.41-point increase in foot pain (β = 1.41, 95% confidence intervals (CIs) 0.73-2.09 and p < 0.001) and a 1.83-point increase in worse foot function (β = 1.83, 95% CI 1.12-2.54 and p < 0.001).

conclusionAssessing pain catastrophising pre-operatively is recommended for individuals with hallux valgus, although more structured education may be needed to support health professionals in assessing psychological factors. Future research should evaluate the longitudinal impact of pain catastrophizing on post-operative outcomes and explore other contributing factors, such as comorbidities, lifestyle variables and sex differences, to refine screening and treatment strategies.

Indexed as

Hallux ValgusPainAdultAgedAnxietyCatastrophizationCross-Sectional StudiesDepressionFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedPain MeasurementQuality of LifeSurveys and Questionnairesanxietycatastrophizationfootkinesiophobiapainstress

Identifiers

PMID40024905
PMCPMC11872594

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.