Footwear choices and their association with plantar fasciitis among adult women in Saudi Arabia: a cross-sectional study

Review written by Dr Melinda Smith info

Key Points

  1. Self-reported symptoms of plantar heel pain (PHP) were prevalent in women living in Saudi Arabia.
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BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVE

Plantar heel pain (PHP) is one of the most common causes of foot pain, with a key feature being aggravation of pain under the heel during weight bearing activities.

Footwear has the potential to alter weightbearing loads on heel structures, making it an important consideration both as a symptom aggravator and as a treatment component. People with PHP, particularly women, report greater difficulty accessing suitable footwear than asymptomatic individuals (1,2).

This study (which uses the term ‘plantar fasciitis’) aimed to identify shoe types worn by adult Saudi women, assess prevalence of PHP symptoms, and explore associations between specific footwear types and PHP risk.

People with plantar heel pain report greater difficulty accessing suitable footwear than asymptomatic individuals.
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Clinicians should therefore assess footwear habits and characteristics as part of a comprehensive management strategy that addresses multiple factors associated with PHP symptoms.

METHODS

  • Women aged 20 and older living in Saudi Arabia were recruited via convenience sampling to participate in this cross-sectional study.
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