title: Footwear used by older people and a history of hyperkeratotic lesions on the foot: A prospective observational study.
abstract: Inadequate footwear, painful and hyperkeratotic lesions (HL) are an extremely common problems amongst older people. Such problems increase the risk of falls, hamper mobility, reduction of quality of life, dignity, and ability to remain independent. The etiology of painful and feet conditions is poorly understood.To discover footwear preferences of older people, pain tolerance may favor presence of HL for the use of inadequate footwear in old age.A sample of 100 participants with a mean age of 74.90 ± 7.01 years attended an outpatient clinic where self-reported demographic data, frequency with which they checked their feet were recorded and measurements were taken of foot sensitivity. Additionally, all participants' shoes were allocated into optimal, adequate, and dangerous categories based on design, structural and safety features, and materials.Only 12% of the sample population checked their feet every day, 37% revealed symptoms of neuropathy, 14% used optimal shoes, and 61% presented HL. In a bivariate analysis, no significant differences were observed.HL are associated with inadequate footwear, loss of sensitivity, and low frequency of foot health checks.
authors.affiliation: University Center of Plasencia, Universidad de Extremadura School of Nursing, Physiotherapy and Podiatry, Universidad Complutense de Madrid Faculty of Health Sciences, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos Physical Therapy & Health Sciences Research Group Department, Faculty of Health, Exercise and Sport, European University of Madrid, Villaviciosa de Odón, Madrid Nursing and Physical Therapy Department, Institute of Biomedicine (IBIOMED), Faculty of Health Sciences, University of León, Ponferrada, León Research, Health and Podiatry Unit, Department of Health Sciences, Faculty of Nursing and Podiatry, Universidade da Coruña, Spain.
authors.forename: Patricia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Palomo-López
authors.forename: Ricardo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Becerro-de-Bengoa-Vallejo
authors.forename: Marta Elena
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Losa-Iglesias
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Rodríguez-Sanz
authors.forename: César
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Calvo-Lobo
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: López-López
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D059026:Diagnostic Self Evaluation; D005260:Female; D005528:Foot / Q000503:physiopathology; D005533:Foot Dermatoses / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D016523:Foot Ulcer / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010523:Peripheral Nervous System Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012775:Shoes / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000145:classification; D063189:Symptom Assessment / Q000379:methods*