Women's Foot Health and Podiatry

Hormonal changes, specifically menopause, have led to an overall decrease in quality of life due to foot pain if untreated (López et al., 2016). Many factors can lead to this, some of which include swelling, reduced muscle strength, overstretching of ligaments, and bone density issues (Phillips et al., 1993). This time is also normally associated with other bone abnormalities (osteoporosis) growths, such as bunions, that further increase pain and reduce the ability to stand and walk (Davies, 2001). 

Throughout this period and beyond, the increase in weight, gait changes (walking style), and activity levels can result in pain throughout the lower limbs, especially the feet (Vullo et al., 1996). The changes in posture, daily routine, inability to reach feet, inability to apply creams, socks, or shoes, and swelling will all worsen symptoms (Bohemen & Gendi, 1996). The added pressure of recovery post-pregnancy and caring for a newborn can prolong or hinder the recovery of foot ailments. Without support, new mothers find it difficult to seek medical attention, causing their issues to become chronic. This may limit practitioners to more aggressive forms of treatment. 

This foot pain often leads to increased pain in the knee, hip, and lower back; this serves as a negative loop, causing more changes in gait and offloading (Nyska et al., 1997). Eventually, either reducing the quality of life for the mother or forcing her to seek medical assistance. 

Let's leave the extremes of social and societal pressure that can cause more severe and long-term foot deformities, such as foot binding in Chinese women, and discuss current societal concerns relating to the feet (Chan, 1970). Modern society still places a heavy toll on women to care for family members more than men, this can stem from their innate caring nature, which adds to the desire for women to pursue a career, hobbies, and ambitions. As a personal reflection, I find that the vast majority of children and elderly patients are accompanied by their mothers or daughters, respectively, which reinforces the concept that the burden of caregiving will generally fall on the female members of the family. 

Like males, females are also susceptible to many genetic issues that accumulate with time, causing many undesirable outcomes. These outcomes include early knee arthritis, bunion development, chronic lower back issues, “flat foot deformity,” and many other lower limb aches and pains. Early detection is key to helping patients understand their foot structure, ideal footwear, strengthening strategies, and correction therapies if needed. 

Whatever a woman’s needs, desires, and activity levels are, podiatrists aim to assist in reaching pain-free function and improvement in overall health. This will reflect an increased quality of life for herself, with the ability to pursue her desires without the limitation of lower limb pain. Treatment of foot problems can be as easy as changing footwear, stretching, exercises, or compression, more complex cases can involve changing gait with orthotics or assisting healing with dry needling, injection therapy, or other techniques.