CEP
Commercial media report symptoms of foot pain as being very common among adults . The exact prevalence rates in the general population are unknown . Historically , the National Health Interview Survey ( NHIS ) included questions on bunions , corns , calluses and toenail problems . 1 Hawke and Burns complied data and concluded that foot pain is experienced by 17 to 42 % of the adult population . 2 Foot and ankle conditions in older adults are associated with mobility and balance impairment , disability , falls , and fractures . 3-5 Irrespective of the underlying cause , foot pain has a significant impact on health-related quality of life . Pedorthists can have a tremendous impact on involving and motivating their patients with foot pain . One major advantage for pedorthists is their availability . The aim of this review is to offer a comprehensive appraisal of the literature on foot pain , with specific reference to its definition , etiology , and common foot pain syndromes .
Foot Pain Defined
Clinically foot pain is defined as an unpleasant sensory and emotional experience following perceived damage to any tissue distal to the tibia or fibula ; including bones , joints , ligaments , muscles , tendons , apopphyses , retinacula , fascia , bursa , nerves , skin , nails and vascular strutures . 6 Hawke and Burns refer to “ foot pain ” as a general term , inferring neither pain class , injury mechanism nor histological pathology . 2 It is important for the pedorthist to recognize that foot pain is not the noxious-stimuli-induced activity in the nociceptive pathways , 2 , 6 , 7 on the contrary it is the perception of this process and the consequential effects on suffering and pain-related behavior . 8
Pathological foot pain is experienced following nociceptive pathology ; involving dysfunction of either or both of peripheral or central nervous system . 9 , 10 There are three essential criteria for classification as physiological foot pain . 9-12 The first criterion is noxious stimuli which are extrinsic to the nervous system . The second criterion is described as that
Read This Article , Take Survey to Earn Continuing Education Points
The Pedorthic Footcare Association ( PFA ) offers Continuing Education Points ( CEPs ), approved by the American Board for Certification in Orthotics , Prosthetics & Pedorthics ( ABC ) and the Board of Certification / Accreditation International ( BOC ), via specially designated articles within Current Pedorthics magazine .
To take advantage of the program , thoroughly read the adjacent article , “ A Review of Foot Pain - A Step Forward for the Pedorthist ( Part 1 ),” and then visit www . pedorthics . org and click on the Continuing Education Opportunities tab to purchase the 10-question quiz associated with this article . CEP quizzes cost $ 15 for members and $ 25 for non-members . The quizzes are worth 1.0 Scientific or Business CEP , depending on the content . Successful completion of the quiz will result in 1.0 CEP reported directly to ABC and BOC at the end of each quarter .
This article is the seventh CEP-eligible article in Current Pedorthics . Look for additional CEP-eligible articles in future issues of the magazine ; previous articles are available in the magazine archive at www . pedorthics . org .
If you have any questions , contact PFA , at ( 800 ) 673-8447 or e-mail info @ pedorthics . org .
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