Association between sex differences on foot health related to the quality of life in a sample of sedentary people

SUMMARY Sedentary (sitting) time may produce many anatomical and physiological consequences which are supposedly associated with a decreased quality of life (QoL) related to foot health. Accordingly, this study aimed to analyze the QoL impact on the overall health and the foot health among male and female sedentary people. A total of 312 participants with an age mean of 39.81 ± 15.40 years completed all phases of the study. In addition, self-reported data were registered. The participants' sedentary lifestyle was determined using the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC) physical activity questionnaire. Furthermore, the scores obtained from the Portuguese version of the Foot Health Status Questionnaire were registered. Sedentary people in the equivalent metabolic energy had 301.09 ± 72.22 (min/week). In the first section, values were higher for foot pain and foot function and lower for general foot health and footwear. In the second section, values were higher for general health and vigor and lower for physical activity and social capacity. The differences between the sex groups of the study were statistically significant for footwear (P = 0.008), physical activity (P= 0.002), social capacity (P = 0.001) and vigor (P = 0.001) showing a worst QoL related to foot health in favor of male subjects in comparison with females. The rest of the domains did not show any statistically significant difference (P ≥ .01). The sedentary population evidenced a negative impact on the QoL related to foot health. This problem may be associated with this lifestyle, especially for males.

RESUMO O tempo sedentário (sentado) pode produzir muitas consequências anatômicas e fisiológicas que supostamente estão associadas a uma redução de qualidade de vida (QoL) relacionada à saúde do pé. Por conseguinte, o objetivo deste estudo foi analisar o impacto da QV sobre a saúde geral e a saúde do pé entre pessoas sedentárias masculinas e femininas. Uma amostra de 312 participantes com idade média de 39,81 ± 15,40 anos completou todas as fases do processo de estudo. Além disso, os dados autorrelatados foram registrados. O comportamento sedentário dos informantes foi determinado usando o questionário de prospecção prospectiva de câncer e nutrição (Epic). Além disso, os resultados obtidos com a versão em português do Questionário de Status de Saúde do Pé (PFHSQ) foram registrados. As pessoas sedentárias no equivalente de energia metabólica apresentaram 301,09 ± 72,22 (min/semana). Na primeira seção, os valores foram maiores para a dor no pé e função do pé e diminuíram a saúde e o calçado do pé geral. Na segunda seção, os valores foram maiores para saúde geral e vigor e menores para atividade física e capacidade social. As diferenças entre os grupos sexuais do estudo foram estatisticamente significativas para o calçado (P = 0,008), atividade física (P = 0,002), capacidade social (P = 0,001) e vigor (P = 0,001), mostrando uma pior QV relacionada à saúde do pé a favor dos sujeitos do sexo masculino em relação aos participantes sedentários femininos. O restante dos domínios não apresentou diferença estatisticamente significante (P ≥ 0,01). A população sedentária evidenciou um impacto negativo na QoL relacionada à saúde dos pés. Esse problema pode estar associado a este comportamento, especialmente no sexo masculino.

Evaluation of podiatric disorders in a sample of children with intellectual disabilities: an analytical cross-sectional study

ABSTRACT BACKGROUND: Intellectual disabilities (IDs) usually derive from neurodevelopmental disabilities. They limit intellectual functioning and cause adaptive behaviors and orthopedic problems. These disabilities have harmful effects on health, everyday practical skills and social functioning, and they diminish quality of life. The goal of our research was to perform podiatric evaluations on schoolchildren with and without ID and ascertain their records of foot disorders. DESIGN AND SETTING: Analytical cross-sectional study conducted at a podiatric clinic in the city of Piedras Blancas, province of Asturias, Spain. METHODS: An analytical cross-sectional study on 82 schoolchildren affected by ID, compared with 117 healthy schoolchildren, was conducted at a podiatric clinic. Demographic data, clinical characteristics and measurements relating to podiatric examinations were recorded among the participants who completed all phases of the tool that was used in the study process. RESULTS: Almost 90% of the schoolchildren with and without ID presented foot disorders relating to smaller toes, nail disorders, flat feet or lower-limb alterations. CONCLUSIONS: The participants showed elevated prevalence of foot disorders. Podiatric evaluations are a significant means for preventing the appearance of medical conditions and/or foot problems, and they also improve general health.

Foot health and quality of life among university students: cross-sectional study

ABSTRACT BACKGROUND: Foot problems are believed to reduce quality of life and are increasingly present. Even among young adults of university age, untreated foot problems can lead to postural and mobility problems. Accordingly, our aim here was to determine the relationship between foot health and quality of life and general health among male and female university students. DESIGN AND SETTING: Observational cross-sectional quantitative study conducted at the Podiatric Medicine and Surgery Clinic of the University of Coruña, Ferrol, Spain. METHODS: A sample of 112 participants of median age 22 years came to a health center, where self-reported data were registered, including professional activity, and scores obtained through the Foot Health Status Questionnaire (FHSQ) were compared. RESULTS: In Section One of the FHSQ, the university students recorded lower scores of 66.66 in the footwear domain and 60 in the general foot health domain and higher scores of 84.37 in the foot pain domain and 93.75 in the foot function domain. In Section Two, they obtained lower scores of 60 in the overall health domain and 62.50 in the vigor domain and higher scores of 100 in the physical activity and 87.50 in the social capacity domain. Differences between males and females were evaluated using the Wilcoxon rank-sum test, which showing statistical significance (P < 0.05) regarding the dimensions of footwear and general foot health. CONCLUSIONS: These university students' quality of life relating to foot health was poor. This appears to be associated with the university period, regardless of gender.

Interdigital foot infections: Corynebacterium minutissimum and agents of superficial mycoses

Interdigital foot infections are mostly caused initially by dermatophytes, yeasts and less frequently by bacteria. Erythrasma caused by Corynebacterium minutissimum can be confused with superficial mycoses. The aim of the study was to determine the prevalence of the etiologic agents of superficial mycoses and the frequency of Corynebacterium minutissimum in interdigital foot infections. All the samples obtained from the 121 patients with interdigital foot infections were examined directly with the use of 20% potassium hydroxide mounts and Gram stain under the microscope and cultured on Sabouraud's dextrose agar plates. In identification of superficial mycoses, the rate was found to be 14% with the cultural method and 14% with direct microscopic examination. Using a combination of direct microscopic examination and culture, a 33.8% ratio was achieved. In the culture of these samples, the most isolated factor was Trichophyton rubrum (33.7%). In 24 of the patients (19.8%) Corynebacterium minutissimum was detected by Gram staining, in 6 of these patients Trichophyton rubrum was found, Trichophyton mentagrophytes was found in 2 and Trichosporon spp. was found in 1. The examination of interdigital foot lesions in the laboratory, the coexistence of erythrasma with dermatophytes and yeast should be considered.

Geriatric Foot Problems and Related Factors in Two Provinces of Korea

PURPOSE: The purpose of the study was to identify the prevalence, risk factors and clinical meanings of geriatric foot problems and to suggest implications for the future. METHODS: One hundred eighty nine elderly aged 60 and over from institution as well as community were investigated for their foot conditions by means of a questionnaire including general characteristics, self care capacity, risk factors, foot problem checklist, X-ray, podoscopy and foot scan. Descriptive statistics and chi-square-test was performed as appropriate utilizing SPSS version 14. Less than .05 of p-value was adopted as statistical significance level. RESULTS: All subjects had at least one kind of foot problem and the most prevalent ones were nail problems, foot deformities in order. Prevalence of foot pain and edema was relatively low. CONCLUSION: Foot problem in elderly is prevalent and geriatric foot is expected to emerge as one of the most important problems in the geriatric field. Therefore strategies to deal with geriatric foot should be developed and practiced for better quality of life in later life.

Afecções podais em vacas da bacia leiteira de Rondon do Pará / Foot disorders in cows from basin milk of Rondon do Pará

As doenças digitais estão entre as principais causas de performance reduzida de rebanhos leiteiros. Com o objetivo de determinar a prevalência, classificar clinicamente e estabelecer os fatores epidemiológicos das enfermidades podais em vacas da bacia leiteira de Rondon do Pará, foram avaliadas 1.236 vacas, das quais 275 apresentaram pelo menos um tipo de lesão podal. Identificou-se 655 lesões, o que resultou em uma prevalência de 22,25 por cento. As enfermidades mais frequentes foram hiperplasia interdigital (80,92 por cento), necrobacilose interdigital (6,11 por cento) e cascos com crescimento excessivo (6,42 por cento). Os membros pélvicos foram os mais acometidos (61,83 por cento) e o espaço interdigital, tanto nos membros torácicos (36,34 por cento), quanto nos pélvicos (48,09 por cento), a região digital acometida com maior frequência. O estudo epidemiológico mostrou que características ambientais tais como relevo montanhoso, pastagem em formação com presença de troncos e galhos de árvores, irregularidades nos pisos dos currais, presença de piçarra e lama podem favorecer o aparecimento das lesões podais. Constatou-se a ausência de medidas de controle e profilaxia de afecções que acometem os cascos em 95,5 por cento das propriedades estudadas. O exame clínico específico do casco foi eficiente no diagnóstico das enfermidades.

Foot diseases are some of the main causes of low performance in dairy cows. In order to determine the prevalence, clinical classification and to establish the epidemio-logical factors of foot diseases in cows from basin milk of Rondon do Pará, 1,236 cows were evaluated and 275 had at least one type of foot injury. A total of 655 lesions was showed which a prevalence of 22.25 percent. Most frequent lesions were interdigital hyperplasia (80.92 percent), claw overgrowth (6.42 percent), and interdigital necrobacillosis (6.11 percent). Hind limbs were most frequently affected (61.83 percent), and lesions affecting the interdigital space were the most common in both the thoracic (36.34 percent) and hind limbs (48.09 percent). Epidemiological study showed that the environmental characteristics such as mountainous areas, newly formed grassland (with trunks and branches of trees), irregular ground, and mud and gravel in the floor of the pens may promote the development of foot lesions. In 95.5 percent of the farms, no measures had been taken for the control and prophylaxis of foot diseases. The specific clinical examination of the feet was efficient for the diagnosis.

Study of relationship between low back pain relation and foot disorders

Low back pain [LBP] has a high prevalence in any society. Although the relation between LBP and foot disorders is improbable, however, knowing this subject that each part of the foot has a role in body balance and this has a significant relationship with cooperation of body muscles, and any change in foot parts can affect the entered forces to the muscles and change them. The purpose of this study was to determine the relation between chronic LBP and foot disorders in two groups of healthy and LBP affected subjects. This is a case-control study, in which the relation between LBP and some foot disorders like Hallux valagus, Hallax rigidus, flat foot, calf muscle tightness and foot dimensions in subjects with and without LBP was studied. These subjects were selected with simple nonrandomized sampling and there were 83 subjects in each group. Findings showed a significant relation between Hallux valgus, Hallux rigidus, flat foot and solcus tightness with chronic LBP, but no significant relationship between foot dimensions [except width of right sole] and gastrocnemius tightness with chronic LBP was found. According to these results it can concluded the foot and ankle disorders due to their effects on posture, balance and gait, in long time, may cause chroic LBP

Morphotypes du pied de l'Ivoirien et incidence sur certaines affections des orteils

Ce present travail a pour objet d'une part de determiner le morphotype du pied de l'ivoirien base sur la longueur comparee des orteils et d'autre part d'apprecier son incidence sur certaines affections des orteils. Cette etude s'est realisee sur une population de 1041 personnes comprenant 540 hommes et 501 femmes. Dans cette approche epidemiologique; les auteurs notent que le pied egyptien est le morphotype dominant (58;60 pour cent) quelque soit le sexe et le groupe ethnique

Aspectos clínicos del síndrome del pie diabético: consideraciones sobre 427 casos de diabéticos no seleccionados / Clinical aspects of diabetic foot syndrome: considerations about 427 not selected diabetic cases

Para determinar la frecuencia y características clínicas de las lesiones en los pies, 427 pacientes no seleccionados con Diábetes Mellitus fueron evaluados entre 1979-1986. En 367 casos evaluados retrospectivamente, se encontraron lesiones en los pies en 72 casos (19,6%) y al evaluar prospectivamente 60 pacientes hospitalizados en forma consecutiva, encontramos en 28 casos (46,7%) lesiones avanzadas del pie; en 38 casos (63,3%) se detectaron lesiones menores tipo hiperqueratosis o callosidades. En 16 casos (26,7%) el pie diábetico, fue el motivo que originó la hospitalización y en 39 pacientes (65,0%) no tenían previa información adecuada sobre el cuidado preventivo para las afectaciones del pie. Las lesiones del pie constituyen una importante complicación del paciente diábetico y motivo de prolongada estancia hospitalaria. Todo médico debe evaluar sistemáticamente las lesiones precoces del pie y lo que es más importante, educar adecuadamente al diabético para el cuidado de los mismos