frey 2000 - foot health and shoewear for women
Clinical review (Carol Frey, MD) examining female foot anatomy and biomechanics, epidemiology and causes of common forefoot disorders linked to ill‑fitting and fashion footwear, shoe construction and fitting (lasts, lasting techniques, midsoles, pronation control, lacing strategies), patient counseling (measurement methods, shoe sizer, updated shoe list), special considerations for older and younger women, athletic shoe fitting, and a toe‑strengthening program. Emphasizes that improperly fitted women’s shoes are a major contributor to forefoot deformities and societal costs.
Questions this document answers
356 women
80%
76%
Average 9.3 cm (3.7 in); range 7.6–11.4 cm (3–4.5 in)
Average 1.2 cm smaller (study later cites 1.3 cm to 2.5 cm for average patient; patients without pain/deformity had ~0.56–0.60 cm discrepancy)