The Association Between Footwear Choices, Foot Problems, and Lower Extremity Pain Attributes in Individuals Engaged in Prolonged Standing

Background: Prolonged standing can lead to musculoskeletal disorders, especially in the lower extremities, when appropriate footwear is not used. The aim of this study is to investigate the relationship between footwear styles, foot problems, and pain characteristics related to lower extremities in individuals with prolonged standing. Methods: A descriptive, cross-sectional study design was employed, using a random sample of individuals with prolonged standing (n = 159). Participants were asked questions about their footwear choices. They were asked to mark the lower extremity pain localization on the McGill Pain Map. In addition, foot deformities were evaluated by physical examination. Results: The findings revealed that most females (n = 88) and males (n = 71) preferred flat/sports footwear styles in both summer and winter. There was no significant difference between footwear styles and foot pain duration, intensity, and localization in both genders (p > 0.05). However, a statistically significant difference was observed among males between their summer footwear styles and pain related to lower extremities (low back pain and knee pain), and among females between their summer footwear styles and foot problems (bone deformities, skin pathologies and soft tissue issues) (p < 0.05). Conclusions: The results of this study show that the preferred footwear style was associated with lower extremity pain and foot problems, which emphasized the importance of footwear selection and footwear evaluation in the musculoskeletal evaluation of the lower extremities.