Objective:
A qualitative study to determine what people with Parkinson’s disease (PD) wear on their feet at home and outdoors and to increase our understanding of the positive and negative issues for them relating to footwear.

Background: Footwear choices and inappropriate shoes have been consistently associated with mobility issues and higher risk of falls in elderly populations. In light of the increased mobility and falls risk associated PD, it is surprising to find that little is known about the footwear challenges and experiences faced by this group. 

Methods: Semi-structured interviews with 15 people with PD comprising 8 men and 7 women ranging in age from 57-84 years. Participants were purposively sampled from a pool of 154 participants who completed a screening questionnaire to ensure variation in terms of age, gender and disease severity. Data was analysed thematically using Framework analysis. 

Results: Four categories of themes related to 1) impact of PD and foot problems, 2) Footwear choices and priorities, 3) challenging issues and 4) strategies and resources of support.  Participants discussed the impact of PD on mobility and balance and a combination of foot problems perceived as predominantly relating to PD, such as toes curling upwards, swelling due to medication, stiffness, and loss/altered sensation. Changes in priorities, choices of footwear and making compromises (such as comfort, convenience and security over appearance) were associated with progressive and changing PD symptoms. Participants discussed the challenges of choosing appropriate footwear throughout the progression of the disease, poor shopping experiences and accommodating oedema and orthoses.  These issues were reported to affect some participant’s identity leading to an overall sense of loss.   Although half of the participants received footwear care, none reported receiving advice about footwear.
 

Conclusions: These findings provide an initial understanding of the specific challenges, experiences and footwear needs of people with PD. In addition to dealing with the complexities of a progressive neurological disease, patients with PD face foot and footwear problems that require the need to make changes and decisions that have important physical, social and psychological implications. 

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MDS Abstracts - https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/a-qualitative-study-of-the-views-and-experience-of-people-with-parkinsons-disease-regarding-their-footwear/