‘ A good fit ?’
‘ A good fit ?’
Background
With research suggesting that over 60 % of women and 30 % of men suffer from pain when wearing shoes [ 1 ] , there is a clear need for further research into the numerous factors affecting an individual ’ s footwear choices , particularly when such choices might be assessed as ‘ poor ’ by practitioners . Research shows there is a correlation between ill-fitting shoes and specific foot pain [ 2 ] ; wearing ‘ fashion ’ shoes such as high heels or slip-on pumps is associated with a number of issues from blisters and bunions to toe deformities , hallux valgus and ulcers [ 3 – 5 ] . In addition , up to 10 % of the UK population experience ‘ disabling ’ foot pain [ 6 ] , which may of course be exacerbated by certain footwear choices . At the same time , the sale of fashion shoes has soared over recent years
[ 7 ] and podiatrists report ongoing challenges in encouraging people to adopt ‘ healthier ’ footwear [ 8 ] . High heels have been associated with the development of foot pathologies including clawed toes , bunions and foot pain
[ 3 ] and more recently this type of footwear has been linked to a number of different foot injuries presenting at one emergency department ; the most commonly affected areas were the ankle , foot and toes [ 9 ] .
This of course raises a number of questions ; why might people continue to wear shoes that cause discomfort and even pain ? Why do some patients disregard professional advice about changing their footwear , despite an awareness that certain shoes may exacerbate existing conditions , limit mobility and even increase the risk of further complications ? And finally , how can podiatrists better develop a dialogue with patients to support them in making realistic , sustainable changes to their footwear choices ? Podiatrists and patients are frequently seen as at opposite ends of a spectrum ; ‘ healthy ’ footwear may be regarded by patients as unfashionable and unwearable despite the benefits of changing their shoes in line with professional advice and recommendations such as the ‘ Healthy Footwear guide ’ [ 8 ] . This article explores the ways in which a turn to recognizing and exploring shoe choice from a more sociological perspective can help us to understand and explore some of the reasons why patients may resist making changes to their footwear , whilst illuminating the importance of shoes to identity and sense of self . It begins by outlining some of the links between identity and footwear made in the field of sociology , before highlighting examples of healthcare research in the last decade that has started to adopt qualitative methodologies and recognize and explore the centrality of shoes to patients ’ sense of identity . The article then explores the implications for practice of this growing body
26 Pedorthic Footcare Association | www . pedorthics . org