LAUSR

INTRODUCTION Foot and lower limb pain reported by many adults experiencing homelessness may be due to improper shoes and may contribute to decreased activity and physical functioning. OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to characterize the effects of proper fitting shoes on pain, activity, and foot health in adults experiencing homelessness. DESIGN A pretest-posttest quasi-experimental pilot study design was used. SAMPLE Twenty-three out of 30 enrolled participants completed the study and were mostly female, non-Hispanic, black individuals with high school education or higher. MEASUREMENTS Eligible participants completed surveys related to pain, foot health, and foot conditions, and a 10-meter walking test prior to (BASELINE) and after (FINAL) the intervention. INTERVENTION Participants wore properly fitted shoes for 6 weeks and were encouraged to maintain activity levels consistent with activity levels prior to receiving new shoes. RESULTS Pain scores were lower at FINAL versus BASELINE. Participants reported reductions in knee, back and ankle/feet pain. Participants had significant improvements on almost all areas of foot health and had faster gait speed at FINAL versus BASELINE. Minimal changes in foot conditions were observed. CONCLUSION Proper fitting shoes improve pain, walking speed, and foot health in adults experiencing homelessness with moderate to severe pain.