Unsuitable footwear 'exacerbates gout'

Poor footwear choice may be exacerbating problems experienced by people with gout, new research has suggested.

A study published in journal Arthritis Care & Research found revealed that gout patients who opted for unsuitable footwear experienced more foot-related pain, impairment and disability.

Furthermore, a survey of gout patients revealed that comfort, fit, support and cost were the four most important factors they took into consideration when making a footwear choice.

"Roughly 56 per cent of patients made good footwear choices by wearing walking shoes, athletic sneakers, or Oxfords. Of the remaining patients, 42 per cent wore footwear that are considered poor and included sandals, flip-flops, slippers, or moccasins; 2 per cent wore boots which are considered average; and none wore high-heeled shoes," noted research leader Professor Keith Rome.

Poor footwear was defined by improper cushioning, lack of support, inadequate stability and motion control.

Furthermore, more than half of participants wore shoes that were more than one year old and showed excessive wear patterns.

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