FOOTWEAR CHOICES FOR PAINFUL FEET
DISCUSSION
This study looked at the relationship between
shoes purchased by a group of women receiving
regular podiatry treatment and the presenting
pathology, particularly whether shoes have
an association with foot pathology and what
choices determined the purchase decision. This
group of participants, from a small locality
of Cambridge UK, had independently sought
podiatry treatment, as the presenting foot pain
was perceived as requiring intervention. (see:
Figure 2)
Number of shoes purchased by participants
in Group A 40-60 years and Group B 61+ years,
over a 6-month period categorized by footwear
style
The clinical presentations of foot pathology
indicated a significantly higher incidence of HAV
in the older group who were also more likely
to have corns. It is known that morphological
and physiological changes occur over time with
bony and soft tissue changes occurring from
natural ageing and prolonged mechanical strain
[26]. The forefoot is reported to be wider with a
greater depth in older adults and footwear that
is not wide enough contributes to foot pathology
[12]. However, in this study the older group had
longer and narrower feet than the younger
participants and did not consider having a foot
measurement taken or change in footwear
size when purchasing shoes. Therefore, any
age-related changes that had occurred over
time were not accounted for or considered by
this group. This resulted in the shoe size worn
to clinic being significantly narrower than
the younger group with the shoe not fit-ting
correctly to the measured size. There was no
difference in width measurement from shoe
or barefoot causing a tight fit of shoe. This
could have led to an in-crease in incidence of
tbar
walking shoe
thong / flip-flop
trainers
dress shoe
boot
sandal
ankle boot
pump
loafer / slip-on
court shoe
mule
FIGURE 2: Number of shoes
0
Group A
5
10
15
20
25
NUMBER OF SHOES PURCHASED OVER A 6-MONTH PERIOD
Group B
purchased by participants in
Group A 40-60 years and Group B
61+ years, over a 6-month period
categorized by footwear style.
32
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