Why do we assess patient posture barefoot in clinic when they spend most of their life wearing shoes?
Item
- Title
- Why do we assess patient posture barefoot in clinic when they spend most of their life wearing shoes?
- Author(s)
- Setchell Hannah J
- Abstract
- Clinical folklore seems to believe categorically and unequivocally, that wearing high-heeled shoes increases the lordosis of the lumbar spine, thus causing low back pain by the mechanism of hyperlordosis. However, all experimental research to date contradicts this belief, and has proven repeatedly, that increasing heel height and reduction in lumbar lordosis are negatively correlated.This project set out originally to assess the assumptions made by the osteopathic profession, regarding postural adaptation to heel height, and whether, seemingly, the profession is aware of the research, to date, in this area. Furthermore, whether we, as osteopaths, take footwear into account when assessing our patients’ posture, and the frequency with which we offer advice regarding the most appropriate footwear for them.Sixty-eight qualified osteopaths currently practicing within the United Kingdom, participated in the study, conducted by means of a postal questionnaire. Responses showed dramatically, that not one subject assumed that the addition of a high heel, would reduce the lumbar lordosis in a standing, static patient, although the majority dispensed advice regarding footwear on a regular basis. The author suggests that perhaps high-heels do not ‘cause’ back pain but also goes on to discuss a possible alternative mechanism for the causation of low back pain associated with the wearing of high-heeled shoes.
- Abstract
- presented at
- British School of Osteopathy
- Date Accepted
- 2000
- Date Submitted
- 31.7.2000 00:00:00
- Type
- undergraduate_project
- Language
- English
- Submitted by:
- 62
- Pub-Identifier
- 12201
- Inst-Identifier
- 780
- Keywords
- Shoes,Posture,Osteopathic Diagnosis
- Recommended
- 0
- Item sets
- Thesis
Setchell Hannah J, “Why do we assess patient posture barefoot in clinic when they spend most of their life wearing shoes?”, Osteopathic Research Web, accessed April 29, 2024, https://www.osteopathicresearch.com/s/orw/item/2259