![]() Those with inadequate footwear reported that their shoes contributed to or exacerbated their foot problems. The impact of poorly fitting footwear may be under-estimated indeed Williams and Bowden reported that only 51% of people with rheumatic diseases were wearing suitable retail footwear. A poorly fitting shoe may exacerbate foot complaints, induce further damage or cause falls due to reduced proprioceptive capacity, balance and postural reactions. The irreversible destructive changes within the foot often cause visible changes in foot structure, causing difficulty in finding safe and comfortable retail footwear. These factors are often associated with disability and poor or reduced health-related quality of life. This autoimmune disease causes synovial inflammation and destruction of joint architecture, leading to pain, loss of joint function, muscle atrophy from disuse and inability to participate in work and social activities. Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a systemic, symmetrical inflammatory disease typically affecting several joints in the hands and feet. The loss of choice in footwear as a consequence of the disease impacts negatively on emotions, wellbeing and was identified in reduced self-perceived quality of life. Limitations in retail footwear for these women have impacted on their individuality, linking significantly with their body image. In particular, the areas discussed most frequently throughout were themes (2), (3) and (4), which were notably more 'emotional' in nature. These contributed to an overarching concept of loss of choice associated with retail footwear. Six key themes were revealed from the analysis: (1) the nature of foot complaints and deformities, (2) aesthetic appearance and design of footwear, (3) body image, (4) psychosocial aspects, (5) Perceptions of footwear and (6) the therapeutic value of retail shoes. ![]() Semi-structured interviews were carried out and an interpretative phenomenological approach was adopted for data collection and transcript analysis. ![]() MethodsĮleven women with RA wearing normal retail footwear were recruited from an out-patient podiatry clinic in the south east of England. This study aimed to explore the perceptions of women with RA regarding their choice of retail footwear and identify the factors influencing retail footwear selection. Previous research gives limited information (largely associated with cosmesis) on people's perceptions on the relationships that exist between retail footwear, well-being and quality of life. Studies have reported that women with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) are not wearing NHS supplied therapeutic footwear therefore it is likely they are wearing footwear sourced through retailers.
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