An Exploratory Study of The Perceptions of Footwear for Individuals who use Lower Limb Orthotics

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to explore individual’s perceptions of orthotics and footwear. A survey was created by the authors with the expert opinions of physical and occupational therapists and was distributed to two therapy clinics in Tennessee that provide both occupational therapy and physical therapy as well as on several online support groups. Seventy-nine (79) caregivers completed surveys. Thematic analysis was performed using Nvivo 10 (QSR International) and descriptive statistics were generated using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) IBM International). Ninety percent (90%) of participants report that orthotics affect what type of shoes the user can wear. Eighty-two percent (82%) report that it is difficult to shop for shoes that accommodate orthotics. Sixty-one percent (61%) report that the user would be more likely to wear their orthotics if they had more options of shoes to wear. Fifty-nine percent (59%) report that the user would be more likely to wear their orthotics if they had shoes that were more attractive. The importance of collaborating with consumers when designing products is essential for the success of both the individual and the product.