For P.M. ReleaseWednesday, February 28, 2001
For more information, contactJoanne Swanson (847) 384-4035, [email protected] Todd Schuetz(847) 384-4032, [email protected]A.J. Wright(847) 384-4034, [email protected]
PROPER SHOE FIT KEY TO PREVENTING FOOT PROBLEMS
SAN FRANCISCO--Most people take 5,000-10,000 steps each day; 3 million steps per year. More than 43.1 million Americans--one in every six persons--have trouble with their feet, mostly from improperly fitting shoes. Foot problems alone cost the U.S. $3.5 billion a year.
During a media briefing at the 68th annual meeting of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, a panel of orthopaedic surgeons held a "Foot Clinic" for reporters. It was a "hands on" lab showing what exactly is proper shoe fit. They discussed the importance of proper foot care and detailed steps people can take today to prevent foot problems.
Moderated by Michael Shereff, MD, president, American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society, the panel included Cherise Dyal, MD; Gail Dalton, MD; Donald R. Haynes, president, Pedorthic Footwear Association (PFA); and Libby McGraw, president-elect of Pedorthic Footwear Association (PFA). Dr. Shereff today announced the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society's "Foot Fitness for Life" campaign to help reduce the nationwide epidemic of foot injuries.
"Foot Fitness for Life," a public education program of the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society(AOFAS), encourages everyone to take a few simple steps to evaluate the health of their feet. The activities range from an initial self-examination of the skin, circulation and flexibility of each foot, and reading footprints and shoeprints as red flags that may require additional medical attention from an orthopaedic foot and ankle specialist.
Shoes that do not fit can cause bunions, corns, calluses, hammertoes and other disabling foot disorders. "In Africa and the Pacific Rim countries, the incidence of foot deformities is very low," said Dr. Dyal. "Mainly because people are not wearing improperly fitting shoes, the way people in America do. Foot deformities peak in the 4th, 5th and 6th decade of a person's life."
In the U.S., 90 percent of foot surgery is performed on women. For the most part, women wear shoes that are too small. When you are trying on a shoe, walk on a non-carpeted area of the floor to see if the shoe is comfortable. It is important to avoid carpeted areas because they give your foot padding.
To prevent foot problems, make sure your shoe is the shape of your foot. A square foot should wear a square shoe. The toe box should allow the toes to lie flat. Make sure you measure both feet when buying shoes because your feet are not exactly the same size.
Dr. Dalton said that as people age, their feet become longer and wider, the arch of the foot falls a bit, and the fat pads on the heal and ball of the foot flatten. "While these changes occur naturally with age, many other foot changes are caused by years of neglect and poor footwear,", emphasized Dr. Dalton.
To prevent many foot problems, the shape of the shoe is critical. What makes a good shoe is highly individualized, depending on a person's health, activity level, style, etc. However, it is most important that the shape of your shoe, matches the shape of your foot.
People over 50 years old should avoid heavy rubber soles that can cause tripping, and also wear shoes with laces for a more secure fit and more flexibility to accommodate orthopaedic inserts of braces.Mr. Haynes and Ms. McGraw of the PFA further detailed the importance of proper shoe fit along with tips on buying a shoe that combines function and fashion.
An orthopaedic surgeon is a medical doctor with extensive training in the diagnosis and nonsurgical as well as surgical treatment of the musculoskeletal system including bones, joints, ligaments, tendons, muscles and nerves.
The 25,500-member American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (www.aaos.org) or (http://orthoinfo.aaos.org), is a not-for-profit organization that provides education programs for orthopaedic surgeons, allied health professionals and the public.
An advocate for improved patient care, the Academy is participating in the Bone and Joint Decade (www.bonejointdecade.org), the global initiative in the years 2000-2010 to raise awareness of musculoskeletal health, stimulate research and improve people's quality of life. The Academy's annual meeting is being held February 28-March 4, 2001 at the Moscone Convention Center, San Francisco.
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