Clinical Aspects of Foot Health in Individuals with Alzheimer's Disease

Impact of Plantar Fasciitis on Foot-Specific and Generic Health-Related Quality of Life in King Khalid University Hospital, Saudi Arabia

Objectives The objective is to assess the extent of foot-specific and generic health-related quality of life (HRQoL) impairment among individuals diagnosed with plantar fasciitis (PF) at King Khalid University, Saudi Arabia, and to determine the influence of various sociodemographic and clinical factors. Methods In this cross-sectional study, we administered an online survey from March to June 2023 to patients with PF at King Khalid University Hospital. This questionnaire covered sociodemographic, and clinical characteristics, and included the translated Foot Health Status Questionnaire (FHSQ). Further, patient data were obtained from hospital records between 2016 and 2023 using the E-SIHI system. Results We recruited 209 patients for the study. Lower FHSQ scores were found in unemployed and low-income participants indicating a worse quality of life (QoL) in the Foot Pain domain, while those aged over 40 years and with low income showed greater impairment in the General Foot Health domain. No single factor influenced the Foot Function or Footwear domains. Worse General Health and Physical Activity scores were associated with low-education and low-income participants and those who did not exercise. Women exhibited a lower QoL than men in all domains except for General Health. Conclusion The QoL of Saudi women with PF was similar to that of women in other countries. However, the patients in the present study reported poorer footwear scores but better General Health scores. Therefore, focusing more on proper footwear-related treatments may help improve the QoL of patients with PF.

Repeatability and reliability of the footwear assessment tool in Spanish patients: A transcultural adaptation

BACKGROUND

The footwear assessment tool was designed to advise an appropriate footwear for each situation and patient. Footwear alterations structures can influence in musculoskeletal disorders, developing foot ulcers, increase the peak plantar pressure, bacterial growth, low back pain.

METHODS

To validate the study 101 subjects were recruited. The study was tested by two expert podiatrists using the tool for the assessment of footwear characteristics that is composed by five domains, fit, general features, general structure, motion control properties and cushioning system. Each domain analyzes different shoe items.

RESULTS

An excellent agreement between the test-retest. A suitable Cronbach's α was suggested for the five domains of fit (α = 0.952), general features (α = 0.953), general structure (α = 0.947), motion control properties (α = 0.951), and cushioning system (α = 0.951). Test-retest reliability was excellent for all domains. There were no significant differences between any domain (p > 0.05). There was only statistically significant difference in the item forefoot height (p = 0.011). For all the domains items there were no statistically significant difference (p > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

The tool for the assessment European footwear is a suitable repeatability and reliability footwear tool that can be used in Spanish language subjects.

Effects of Nurse and Care Worker-led Foot-Care Program on Older People's Foot Conditions: Before and After Intervention Study

INTRODUCTION

An increasing number of older people with frailty in Japan use geriatric day care centers. Older people who have been certified as requiring long-term care attend centers during the day and receive nursing care help with bathing, excretion, meals, and functional training services. Many older people have foot problems with need foot care by nurses and care workers (NCWs) at geriatric day care centers.

OBJECTIVE

This study explored the effects of NCWs' foot-care programs on the foot conditions of older people attending daytime services.

METHODS

A before-after intervention study was conducted at geriatric day care centers for older people, where the foot-care program was presented by NCWs for two months. The foot conditions of 23 clients (8 men, 15 women, mean age = 78.6 years, standard deviation = 9.2) were assessed before and after the program. Changes in foot condition and clients' perceptions after the study were analyzed through descriptive statistics, McNemar, and paired t-tests.

RESULTS

Although dramatic changes in foot conditions were not observed, some conditions were improved or maintained. Changes were observed in mean dry skin scores (p < .01; right foot: 1.6→1.1, left foot: 1.6→1.1), skin lesions and long nails (skin lesions R: 0.2→0.1; long nail R: 1.4→1.0, L: 1.1→0.8), and edema (R: 43.5%→39.1%, L: 52.2%→47.8%). Further, clients started perceiving that foot health is important and discussed their feet with staff more often.

CONCLUSION

The NCWs' foot-care program was effective in maintaining and improving foot health in older people and positively affected their perception of foot care.

Impact of the Allergic Asthma on Foot Health-Related Quality of Life and Depression: A Novel Case-Control Research

Background: Asthma may be considered as a non-communicable condition associated with higher bronchial responsiveness that may impair quality of life (QoL). Purpose: The research aim was to compare scores of depression, as well as general and foot health-related QoL, in patients who suffered from asthma with respect to healthy subjects. Methods: A total sample of 152 subjects, median age of 37.00 ± 16.00 years, were recruited from a respiratory and allergy department of a hospital and divided into patients with asthma (n = 76) and healthy subjects (n = 76). The scores of the Spanish foot health status questionnaire (SFHSQ) domains as well as the Spanish Beck’s Depression Inventory (BDI) scores and categories were collected. Results: The only statistically significant difference (p < 0.05) was shown for the difference of the FHSQ footwear domain establishing that patients who suffered from asthma presented a worse QoL related to foot health for footwear (lower FHSQ scores) compared to healthy matched-paired participants (higher FHSQ scores). Regarding the rest of the outcome measurements, there were no statistically significant differences (p > 0.05) for the other FHSQ domains scores as well as the BDI scores and categories. Conclusions: Patients with allergic asthma presented impairment of the QoL related to foot health for footwear, which seemed to be linked to the presence of asthma.

Incorrectly fitted footwear, foot pain and foot disorders: a systematic search and narrative review of the literature

Background

Correct footwear fitting is acknowledged as being vitally important, as incorrectly fitted footwear has been linked to foot pathology. The aim of this narrative review was to determine the prevalence of incorrectly fitted footwear and to examine the association between incorrectly fitted footwear, foot pain and foot disorders.

Methods

A database search of Ovid MEDLINE and CINAHL yielded 1,681 citations for title and abstract review. Eighteen articles were included. Findings were summarised under the categories of (i) children, (ii) adults, (ii) older people, (iii) people with diabetes and (iii) occupation- or activity-specific footwear. Differences in footwear fitting between sexes were also explored.

Results

Between 63 and 72% of participants were wearing shoes that did not accommodate either width or length dimensions of their feet. There was also evidence that incorrect footwear fitting was associated with foot pain and foot disorders such as lesser toe deformity, corns and calluses. Specific participant groups, such as children with Down syndrome and older people and people with diabetes were more likely to wear shoes that were too narrow (between 46 and 81%).

Conclusion

A large proportion of the population wear incorrectly sized footwear, which is associated with foot pain and foot disorders. Greater emphasis should be placed on both footwear fitting education and the provision of an appropriately large selection of shoes that can accommodate the variation in foot morphology among the population, particularly in relation to foot width.

Importance of Footwear for Preventing Xerosis and Hyperkeratosis in Older People with Psychiatric Disorders Living in an Institution

Few studies have focused on the relation between the use and characteristics of footwear and the presence of foot lesions in people with psychiatric disorders. This work analyzes the influence of different footwear habits on the presence of deformities and ungueal and dermal pathologies of the foot of institutionalized people with psychiatric disorders compared to people without these disorders. A transversal and observational study was conducted on 107 participants, divided into two groups who have used different types of shoes throughout their lives. The control group comprised 63 autonomous people who mainly use leather footwear and a study group of 44 institutionalized people with intellectual disabilities and psychiatric disorders who mainly use textile footwear. There were significant differences between populations. The group with psychiatric disorders presented more xerosis and hyperkeratosis. Footwear with inappropriate characteristics is a possible causal agent of skin alterations. Wearing footwear with quality textile uppers, e.g., fabric or felt, could influence the appearance of these alterations. Leather footwear is recommended for institutionalized people to reduce symptoms of xerosis and improve their quality of life.