Evaluating shoe fit in older adults using a 3D scanner: a cross-sectional observational study

Abstract

Appropriate shoe fit is an important factor for preventing foot disorders in older adults. This cross-sectional, observational study evaluated the shoe and foot mismatch of the older people and their footwear characteristics in Tehran city. Eighty senior citizens (50 women and 30 men) participated in this study. Their age range was from 65 to 87 years old. Fifty-seven of them (71.3%) were wearing shoes with improper lengths and 23.7% of them wore shoes with shorter lengths. All of the shoes and feet measurements differences were significant (length difference = −0.4 ± 0.7 (p = 0.000), metatarsophalangeal (MP) width difference = 1.2 ± 0.8 (p = 0.000), MP perimeter difference = 1.6 ± 0.8 (p = 0.000), heel width = 0.3 ± 0.7 (p = 0.000)). In more than 90% of the participants, the shoe’s width and MP region perimeter were shorter than the feet. We found weak but significant relationships between narrower MP and heel widths and hallux valgus (r = 0.33, p = 0.003 and r = 0.29, p = 0.009, respectively). Our results show that most of the participants wear poor-fitting shoes. It seems that many older adults have poor footwear with characteristics like non-supportive heel counter and no fixation.