title: Footwear recommendations and patterns among orthopaedic foot and ankle surgeons: a survey.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Foot and ankle surgeons are in a unique position to educate patients about the importance of proper footwear. Neither their recommendations regarding shoe selection nor their own footwear patterns have previously been reported.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 866 members of the American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society (AOFAS) were asked to complete a survey via the Internet. Topics included specific shoe brands recommended to patients, how attributes of footwear are communicated, and respondents' footwear habits.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In all, 276 (32%) surgeons responded, and 64% recommended New Balance athletic shoes to patients; 26% did not recommend specific brands. It was found that 50% wear New Balance athletic shoes; 25% wear Nike. Rockport (27%) and SAS (27%) were the most recommended dress shoes. In all, 76% are familiar with AOFAS guidelines for proper shoe fit, but only 56% educated their patients about the guidelines; 43% do not consider what patients might think of their shoes when selecting what to wear in the clinical setting.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Despite the multitude of different brands, several were commonly recommended. Respondents seem to be aware of the impact of their own shoe selection on patients' perspectives of footwear, but many do not consider themselves role models for proper footwear.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics, University of Maryland, Baltimore, Maryland.
authors.forename: Daniel C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Farber
authors.forename: Elisa J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Knutsen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000842:Ankle / Q000502:physiology; D003257:Consumer Product Safety; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005528:Foot / Q000502:physiology; D017408:Guidelines as Topic; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D004856:Postural Balance / Q000502:physiology; D012775:Shoes / Q000592:standards*; D012955:Societies, Medical / Q000592:standards; D016138:Walking / Q000502:physiology*
keywords: American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society “10 Points of Proper Shoe Fit”; footwear survey; proper footwear