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Foot Facts
1. More than 43.1 million Americans--one in every six persons--have trouble
with their feet, mostly from improperly-fitting shoes. A huge public health
risk, foot problems cost the U.S. $3.5 billion a year.
2. The cost of foot surgery to correct foot problems from
tight-fitting shoes is $2 billion a year. If time off from work for the
surgery and recovery is included, the cost is $3.5 billion.
3. A study conducted by the American Orthopaedic Foot and
Ankle Society found that:
a. Nine out of 10 women are wearing shoes that are too small for their feet.
b. Eight out of 10 women say their shoes are painful.
c. More than 7 out of 10 women have developed a bunion, hammertoe, or other
painful foot deformity.
d. Women are nine times more likely to develop a foot problem because of
improper fitting shoes than a man.
e. Nine out of 10 women's foot deformities can be attributed to tight shoes.
4. We're all susceptible to foot and ankle injuries, but we can reduce our
risk for them by wearing properly-fitting shoes that conform to the natural
shape of our feet. In selecting shoes, keep this basic principle of good fit
in mind: Your feet should never be forced to conform to the shape of a pair
of shoes.
5. Although style is often a key consideration in choosing a pair of shoes,
the most important quality to look for in shoes-from a practical
standpoint-is durable construction that will protect your feet and keep them
comfortable. Shoes that do not fit can cause bunions, corns, calluses,
hammertoes and other disabling foot disorders. |
