무지외반증을 가진 여성에게서 발사랑 교정구 사용 후 통증완화에 미치는 영향

Abstract

Abstract

The Effects of Wearing Foot Orthotics on Women Experiencing Discomfort Due to Hallux Valgus

Kim Mee Sook Advisor:Prof. Moon Kyung Rye M.D., Ph.D. Department of Alternative Medicine, Graduate School of Health Science Chosun University

A variety of foot orthotics is currently sold in the market for women experiencing hallux valgus. Women having hallux valgus - typically due to wearing high heels - generally feel discomfort in multiple areas of the body including heaviness, stiffness, and pain. Previous study indicates that women who had surgery due to having hallux valgus need continuous rehabilitation in order to minimize recurrence. Despite the importance of reducing bodily damages due to hallux valgus, specific benefits of wearing foot orthotics have not been examined. this study has investigated whether wearing foot orthotics by women with hallux valgus has positive effects on reducing discomfort in the areas of the body. For this study, a survey was conducted to determine the specific effects on the women's body(head, neck, shoulder, wrist, back, waist, pelvis knees, ankle, and toe) and the discomfort types(heaviness, stiffiness, and pain)of foot orthotics. Participants of the survey consisted of women who had worn foot orthotics developed by company A for at least three months. All of these participants had a pre-existing condition of hallux valgus before wearing the orthotics and the difference after wearing them was stastically significant. Based on the survey, it also minimized heaviness, stiffiness and pain throughout participants body. Thus, the overall satisfaction level among these women appeared to be high after wearing the foot orthotics for a number of months. The limitation of this study was that the participants who wore the foot orthotics for more than 12 weeks(3months)were selected. Becaus most participants wore orthotics for approximately 48 weeks(1year), this study was unable to examine participants who wore orthotics for 4 (1 month) to 12 weeks(3months)in detail. To maximize the benefit of treating hallux valgus with foot orthotics, researchers should furthur conduct studies with other groups of people in order to uncover other potential advantages of using foot orthotics to treat various symptoms associated with foot pain. For example, a future study can be conducted to investigate the effects of wearing foot orthotics by men or by elderly people as they are among the fastest growing groups with hallux valgus-like conditions. These include men who wear dress shoes for an entire day at work and men who have worn the same shoes for a long period of time. These individuals tend to have simliar conditions as women who wear high heels. Since this research only examined middle-aged, women, an additional study can be conducted to specipy the effects of wearing orthotics by men. Nonetheless, this study confirms the positive effects of treating various discomfort in the body by wearing foot orthotics. Until more benefits and risks are uncovered, practitioners should continue to recommend patients with hallux valgus to wear foot orthotics.