Reduced pain and improved function A study by Hylton B. Menz of the Lower Extremity and Gait Studies Program in the School of Allied Health at La Trobe University in Melbourne, concluded that adults over the age 65 with disabling foot pain, when fitted with extra-depth footwear witnessed reduced pain and improved function. The extra-depth footwear users were more likely to confirm moderate or improved pain over the period of the study while developing fewer keratotic lesions, like corns or calluses. This type of footwear is often marketed to people with diabetic foot ailments, however, the underlying cause of the foot pain seems to be quite irrelevant to evaluate the results of the extra-depth shoes. The reason seems to be that regular footwear is generally too shallow and narrow to accommodate bunions, hammertoes and clawtoes, so the friction that develops within the shoe leads to pain and reduced function, and well fitted shoes won’t rub or pressure as easily sensitive areas.
However, footwear for people suffering from
diabetes is one of the most commonly used examples to illustrate the growing importance given to this segment. In the United States, for example, the Medicar program sponsors a par of these medical shoes per year, which is quite revealing of the importance attributed to footwear specially orientated to health issues.
Notwithstanding the increasing demand for Also, Alzheimer and other dementia demand a
re-engineering process for existing products, which is now very focused in the so called smart shoes with GPS incorporation. This kind of footwear aimed at specific market segments already exists, as footwear for dementia sufferers or children whose movements some parents want to keep track of is currently available and commercialised. Shoes for people with certain allergies, anti- bacterial footwear and products orientated for overweight individuals met an increasing popularity in recent years, and this will continue as manufacturing innovations continue to be developed and applied to this type of products.
these products, the problem associated with the image of medical or therapeutic footwear is still waiting a solution, as there might be some resistance or reluctance showed by patients, especially women, to wear it because of its unattractive appearance. This however, creates new opportunities for companies to develop products that managed to gather medical characteristics with elements of style and design.
Therapeutic or health benefits? Another problem results from the necessity to have a prior clinical evaluation within scientifically acceptable conditions in order to ensure doctors can clearly recommend certain medical shoes, and this is what is missing in many brands with products claiming therapeutic or health benefits. One element that might compensate this is the increasing public scrutiny with individual consumers and organisations actively seeking information about the products available.
JANUARY 2016 • FOOTWEAR TODAY
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