FOOTWEAR CHOICES FOR PAINFUL FEET
footwear purchases [16]. This was not observed
in the older group who preferred a slip-on
shoe with more fashionable factors of heel
shape color fit and comfort. This is suggestive
that as women age, their body image is still of
significant importance. This image is thought
to play an important role in selection of fashion
items regardless of age and disability [22].
To improve the level of compliance from a
patient to clinical footwear advice a greater
emphasis should be made on image and style of
suggested footwear. Clinicians should be guided
by patient’s choices and work to a realistic ideal
to improve the success of footwear fit across
all age groups. Individual discussions around
patient choice and reasoning around footwear
selection could improve understanding and
influence behavior of patients [28]. Individual
education of the choices made and how that
influences foot pain and pathology could
improve the foot health of patients as well as
influence fashion and image.
CONCLUSION
Footwear assessment in clinical environments
should consider the width of the shoe
with greater scrutiny when explaining the
relationship between ill-fitting foot- wear
choice and foot pathology. In addition, the
clinician should examine and review the range
and variety of footwear worn by the individual
patient. This enables the clinician to provide
patient specific advice with appropriate
consideration given to all types of footwear
and activities of daily living rather than just
looking at the shoes worn to clinic on the day of
assessment which might not be the patient’s first
choice.
Quality In
Every Step!
Current Pedorthics | July/August 2018
35