Characteristics of Adult Flatfoot in the United States
published online 31 May 2010.
Abstract
Many factors have been suggested to cause flatfoot deformity. The purpose of this study was to identify risk factors for flatfoot deformity, which itself can be a causative factor for other foot and ankle pathologies. The National Health Interview Survey (Podiatry Supplement) from 1990 was analyzed to determine associations of various demographic factors and other foot and ankle pathologies with self-reported flatfoot deformity. We found statistically significant (P ≤ .05) associations of flatfoot with age, male gender, BMI, white-collar occupation, veteran status, bunion, hammertoe, calluses, arthritis, and poor health. Treatment and prevention of flatfoot may have an effect on an individual's overall health and occurrence of other foot and ankle pathologies.
1Associate Professor, Department of Surgery, Texas A&M Health Science Center, College of Medicine, Temple, TX; Staff, Central Texas Veterans Health Care System, Scott and White Health Care System; Diplomat, American Board of Podiatric Surgery
2Research Scientist, Department of Surgery, Scott and White Health Care System, Temple, TX
3Second Year Podiatric Medicine and Surgery Resident, Scott and White Memorial Hospital, Texas A&M Health Science Center, College of Medicine, Temple, TX
4Assistant Professor, Department of Systems Biology and Translational Medicine, Texas A&M Health Science Center, College of Medicine, Temple, TX
5Associate Professor, Department of Surgery, Texas A&M Health Science Center, College of Medicine, Temple, TX; Chief, Section of Podiatry, Central Texas Veterans Health Care System, Scott and White Health Care System; Diplomat, American Board of Podiatric Surgery
Address correspondence to Naohiro Shibuya, DPM, MS, FACFAS, Texas A&M Health Science Center, College of Medicine, Department of Surgery, 1901 Veterans Memorial Drive, Temple, TX 76502.
ABSTRACT