Comparison of Medical Shoes with Ergonomics Indices and their Effect on Performance and Relieving Muscular Pain

Medical shoes are a solution for the construction and performance related to foot problems. People with healthy feet do not require medical shoes. Shoes have different designs and heights and are probably produced with different materials depending on the nature of the required correction. Ordering medical shoes، like medicine، is personal for each individual. However، today many companies sell their products as medical shoes and people without any knowledge of the disease and deformity، and medical supervision use such therapeutic tools. The aim of this study was to evaluate the compliance of these shoes (medical shoes) with ergonomic indices and their effect on human performance in the sole of the feet، waist and knee. In this study، first four types of medical shoes، which are available in the market، were chosen and compared with ergonomic quality indices. Then، the effect of these shoes on musculoskeletal pain and improvement of performance in the sole of the feet، waist and knee were evaluated. None of the chosen shoes were fully compliant with these standards. Moreover، the effect of these shoes was significant in relieving pain and increasing performance in the sole of the feet. In this study it was found that shoes sold as medical shoes do not even comply with the general indices for shoes and are not suitable for treatment. As a result it is very useful to inform people of this this issue. Moreover، it is necessary to develop standards and oversee the production of shoes، especially medical shoes. Further studies on this subject are recommended in order to gather more information.