Unit 4 - Foot Health Team Management of Foot Deformity Flashcards
Socks
Function of socks (4)
reduce friction between the skin of the foot and footwear
provide some cushioning and protection to skin
absorb and wick moisture away from the skin
help contain heat in winter
Socks
Types of sock fibres
How do the fibres differ?
natural fibres: wool, cotton, silk, hemp or bamboo
synthetic fibres: acrylic, nylon, polypropylene, spandex
each fibre has different properties of elasticity, absorbency and loss or retention of heat
Socks
Which type is best?
there is no strong evidence that one fibre or type of sock is truly superior to another
Advice to clients about socks:
Fit (4)
socks need to fit
too big, they will bunch up in the shoe and add pressure
too small and they can cause pressure on toes and toenails
too tight and they will constrict vascular and lymphatic flow
avoid tight “cuffs” at the top
Advice to clients about socks:
Condition (2)
darning or mending socks will create unwanted pressure points
discard socks with holes
Advice to clients about socks:
Hygiene (3)
wear clean dry socks everyday
change socks during the day if feet are very sweaty
wear socks with less than 25% nylon content to decrease sweating
Advice to clients about socks:
Seams (2)
bulky seams can create points of pressure on fragile skin
some people wear their socks “inside out” to minimize pressure of seams
Shoes MUST be…
Shoes MUST
FUNCTIONAL
FIT
What do FUNCTIONAL shoes do? (4)
protect feet from injury
provide a stable platform for walking
work with or to enhance our natural gait
can provide shock absorption and cushioning with heavy activity (like running) or when on hard surfaces (like concrete)
Advice for shoe fitting:
What type of shoe is suitable for most people? What type of closure and why? Upper Sole (3) Arch Heels
good athletic or walking shoes are suitable for most people
velcro or lace-up closure because it holds the shoe firmly onto your foot and allows adjustment for periodically swollen feet
soft breathable upper that provides protection from minor injury
sole
non-slip
provides some cushioning or shock absorption
flexible under the metatarsal heads
comfortable arch support
no heels > 1” because a higher heel shifts too much pressure to the front of the foot
Advice for shoe fitting:
Shoes must fit in all three directions…tell me more.
Length
long enough and has a finger’s width (1/2” to ¾” or 1-2 cm.) space between end of the longest toe and the end of the insole.
Width
toe box wide enough to allow toes to spread out naturally without rubbing on the sides
Depth
toe box deep enough to not rub on the tops of the toes especially if toe deformities are present
Advice for shoe fitting:
While looking at shoes in the store (4)
remove insole and stand on it to check size
check inside for rough edges or inseams that could rub on skin
shoes should feel comfortable from the start and not need to be “broken in” or stretched by wearing
close monitoring when starting to wear new shoes and/or insoles
Advice for shoe fitting:
When you get the shoes home (3)
wear new shoes for 1 hour and then thoroughly check feet for any signs of pressure
if any concerns, stop wearing shoes and have problems addressed
do not continue to wear shoes that cause blisters, corns or sores
Three types of specialty shoes
Accommodative shoes
have extra depth or width to fit extra wide feet or toe deformities
Modified shoes
altered to accommodate foot deformity or improve gait
Custom shoes
created exclusively to fit a severe foot deformity that cannot be managed with modification
Slippers:
3 points of advice
ideally slippers should fit and give the same support as is needed for that client’s regular shoes
avoid slippers that are too tight or slip off too easily
washable slippers if they are worn without socks
Footwear Assessment:
The first thing to AX is?
Why is this relevant?
What else should you take note of?
how mobile a client is and how much ambulation and activity they do
the footwear needed for someone who is ambulating only short distances indoors will differ from someone who works as a letter carrier full-time
if they have any gait abnormality