The Relationship between Shoe Fitting and Foot Health of Persons with Down Syndrome: A Case Control Study

César Calvo-Lobo, Ana Ramos García, Marta Elena Losa Iglesias, Daniel López-López, David Rodríguez-Sanz, Carlos Romero-Morales and Ricardo Becerro- de-Bengoa-Vallejo
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César Calvo-Lobo: Nursing and Physical Therapy Department, Institute of Biomedicine (IBIOMED), Faculty of Health Sciences, Universidad de León, Ponferrada, 24401 León, Spain
Ana Ramos García: Research, Health and Podiatry Unit, Department of Health Sciences, Faculty of Nursing and Podiatry, Universidade da Coruña, 15403 Ferrol, Spain
Marta Elena Losa Iglesias: Faculty of Health Sciences, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, 28922 Alcorcón, Spain
Daniel López-López: Research, Health and Podiatry Unit, Department of Health Sciences, Faculty of Nursing and Podiatry, Universidade da Coruña, 15403 Ferrol, Spain
David Rodríguez-Sanz: Physical therapy & Health Sciences Research Group Department, Faculty of Health, Exercise and Sport, European University of Madrid, Villaviciosa de Odón, 28670 Madrid, Spain
Carlos Romero-Morales: Physical therapy & Health Sciences Research Group Department, Faculty of Health, Exercise and Sport, European University of Madrid, Villaviciosa de Odón, 28670 Madrid, Spain
Ricardo Becerro- de-Bengoa-Vallejo: School of Nursing, Physiotherapy and Podiatry, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain

IJERPH, 2018, vol. 15, issue 5, 1-9

Abstract: Background : Down syndrome is the most common chromosomal abnormality and a cause of intellectual disability. It is also associated with orthopaedic and musculoskeletal problems of the locomotive apparatus, especially of the feet. These problems are believed to have a harmful effect on health, social functioning, and mobility. In addition, these persons generally don’t have access to podiatric health services, even when their foot problems are well known, because of limited access to healthcare facilities. The goal of our research was to evaluate and compare the foot health status of study participants with and without Down syndrome and to determine whether inadequate footwear is being used with normalized reference values. Methods : A total of 105 participants with and without Down syndrome, with a mean age of 35.71 (SD = 12.93) years, were enrolled in the study. They self-reported demographic data and their clinical characteristic data were recorded. Measurements of their foot and shoe fitting were taken at all stages of the research process. Ninety-two percent of the participants with Down syndrome had foot problems. Results: Only 12 (24%) participants with Down syndrome used bilateral shoes that met the requirements of their feet compared to their controls (50 participants, 90.9% for the right foot; 46 participants, 83.6% for the left foot). Participants with Down syndrome presented statistically significant differences with respect to controls and wore incorrectly sized shoe. Conclusions : Evaluation of foot length and width may prevent development of foot deformities, as well as to improve general health.

Keywords: Down syndrome; foot; musculoskeletal disease; shoes (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2018
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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