‘ A good fit ?’
"... if shoes do not ‘ fit ’ a person more widely , they are likely to either be disregarded or abandoned over the longer term , or to give rise to feelings of shame , resentment and emotional or psychological discomfort ."
‘ A good fit ?’
and shoe diaries in order to explore patients ’ relationships with shoes and real or perceived barriers to adopting ‘ healthier ’ footwear . Findings confirmed and extended earlier work suggesting that ‘ fit ’ is more than just physical , widening out understandings of fit to consider the mental and social fit of a pair of shoes , and whether they are ‘ fit for purpose ’ and suit the patients ’ lifestyle , hobbies , self-image and the ways in which they wish to present themselves .
It is clear that adopting qualitative , social science methods has facilitated a more in-depth exploration of the values , motivations and preferences of patients , and the challenges or fit and comfort are likely to be important considerations for a number of patients , if shoes do not ‘ fit ’ a person more widely , they are likely to either be disregarded or abandoned over the longer term , or to give rise to feelings of shame , resentment and emotional or psychological discomfort .
Implications for practice
In order to ensure that changes to footwear are positive , sustainable and long-term , practitioners need to consider ‘ fit ’ in a more holistic sense , and explore patient values , preferences and any potential resistance to change . Resistance has traditionally been
"... if shoes do not ‘ fit ’ a person more widely , they are likely to either be disregarded or abandoned over the longer term , or to give rise to feelings of shame , resentment and emotional or psychological discomfort ."
constraints they may encounter when advised to make changes to their footwear . In particular , prior research has contributed to a widening of our understanding of what constitutes a ‘ good fit ’ in terms of footwear . Whilst physical regarded as a negative behavior to be overcome ; however , more recent research suggests that engaging with and identifying patient resistance can help practitioners to expose – and start to break down – individual barriers to change [ 28 , 29 ] .
An important step for research in this field is to continue to bridge the gap between sociological research and clinical practice . Whilst the increasing recognition of the links between footwear and identity is of course welcome , it is essential that the findings of such work are fed back into podiatrist training and practice that recognizes that patient values , motivations and practices in relation to the embodied experiences of choosing and w
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32 Pedorthic Footcare Association | www . pedorthics . org