Elsevier

The Foot

Volume 20, Issue 1, March 2010, Pages 7-11
The Foot

High prevalence of foot problems in the Danish population: A survey of causes and associations

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foot.2010.03.002Get rights and content

Abstract

Objective

To determine the prevalence and severity of foot pain and deformity and the associated risk of leg and low back pain.

Method

A cross-sectional postal survey was conducted among a randomly selected sample of 2100 adult Danish inhabitants (18–80 years of age). Participants reported 1-month period prevalences of foot, lower leg, knee, hip and back pain.

Results

Responder rate was 79.6%. Prevalence of foot pain was 30.4% with a total of 55.9% reporting pain in the foot, leg or back lasting more than 1 day within the previous month. Foot pain lasting more than 1 month was experienced by 16.2% and 11.9% had pain lasting more than 1 year. The prevalence of self-reported pes planus or pes cavus was 17.9%. There was a significant association between foot pain and pain elsewhere in the leg and low back. Self-reported foot deformity was significantly associated with foot pain. Women had a significantly higher prevalence of foot pain and Body Mass Index was associated with foot pain in women but not in men.

Conclusions

Foot pain is highly prevalent and associated with foot deformity and leg and low back pain. More attention should be focused on foot pain and foot deformity. It is suggested that clinical examination of leg and low back pain should include foot examination.

Section snippets

Background

The occurrence of foot problems such as pain, athlete's foot, nail problems, corns, callosities, swollen feet or bunions has previously been reported at 38–83%, increasing with age and most common among women [1], [2], [3], [4]. A study on an adult population in North West England found that, among the 63% with foot problems, 9.5% had disabling foot pain and only 16% had received any treatment [2]. The prevalence of foot pain reported in previous studies has ranged from 14% among teenagers to

Aims

The purpose of the present study was to investigate the prevalence of self-reported foot deformities, pain in the foot, leg and low back in the general population and the possible associations between pain in the foot and lower extremity and foot deformity.

Materials and methods

The study was performed with the approval of the local Scientific-Ethical Committee North Denmark Region. The study group (n = 2100) was randomly selected by a computer from the Danish Civil Registration System. Participants were aged between 18 and 80 years in the Municipality of Aalborg, which has a total population of 157,610 (2005). Aalborg is representative of the Danish population as regards to rural and urban distribution. A total of 1671 responded (79.6%). The responders were

Results

One month period prevalence of foot pain was 30.4% (n = 508). Foot pain lasting more than 1 month was reported by 270 (16.2%) and pain lasting more than 1 year by 199 (11.9%). Foot pain was significantly more prevalent among women (34%) than men (26%) (P < 0.001). Limitations in daily activities caused by foot pain were reported by 333 (19.9%). 146 (8.7%) reported that they would have been more physically active without foot pain. Among subjects with foot pain, 213 (42%) had received treatment

Discussion

To the best of our knowledge, the present study is the first randomly selected population survey concerning foot pain and deformity. We found a higher prevalence of foot pain in the adult population (30.4%) than has previously been reported in non-randomly selected samples [1], [2], [12]. Among participants with foot pain, 28.7% said they would have been more physically active without foot pain and 42% had received professional foot treatment within the past year. As physical activity is

Conclusion

Foot pain appears to be a more widespread and serious problem in Denmark than previously reported in the health and morbidity surveys. In the present randomly selected adult sample, the prevalence of foot pain was 30.4%. Limitations in daily activities caused by foot pain were reported by 19.9%. Among the participants, 11.9% had experienced pain for more than 1 year and 8.7% reported that they would have been more physically active without foot pain. Self-reported foot deformity was

References (32)

  • G. Spahn et al.

    The prevalence of pain and deformities in the feet of adolescents. Results of a cross-sectional study

    Z Orthop Ihre Grenzgeb

    (2004)
  • J. Chen et al.

    Prevalence of lower extremity pain and its association with functionality and quality of life in elderly women in Australia

    J Rheumatol

    (2003)
  • K.R. Kaufman et al.

    The effect of foot structure and range of motion on musculoskeletal overuse injuries

    Am J Sports Med

    (1999)
  • M.F. Reinking

    Exercise-related leg pain in female collegiate athletes: the influence of intrinsic and extrinsic factors

    Am J Sports Med

    (2006)
  • B. Yates et al.

    The incidence and risk factors in the development of medial tibial stress syndrome among naval recruits

    Am J Sports Med

    (2004)
  • R. Otsuka et al.

    Association of flatfoot with pain, fatigue and obesity in Japanese over sixties

    Nippon Koshu Eisei Zasshi

    (2003)
  • Cited by (0)

    Sources of support: Northern Orthopaedic Division, Denmark.

    1

    Tel.: +45 96358860.

    2

    Tel.: +45 99323613.

    View full text