Effect of Lightweight Carbon Fiber Safety Footwear on Occupational Foot-Related Morbidity: A Retrospective Pre‒Post-intervention Study in a Taiwanese Industrial Setting.
retrospective_cohort · Level III
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- Record sourced from PubMed, PMID 42507814.
- Also identified by DOI 10.1097/JOM.0000000000003835.
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Abstract
This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of lightweight carbon fiber safety footwear in reducing occupational foot-related conditions. A retrospective pre-post study was conducted among 3,529 users of safety footwear at a Taiwanese industrial facility. Diagnoses of tinea pedis, plantar fasciitis, and tendinitis were compared between 2021 and 2023 using deidentified occupational health surveillance data. The total number of cases declined from 170 to 136 (20% reduction). Plantar fasciitis dropped from four to zero cases. Tendinitis and tinea pedis decreased by 23.6% and 11.7%, respectively. The overall disease incidence decreased from 4.82% to 3.86%. Lightweight carbon fiber footwear was associated with reduced foot morbidity while maintaining safety standards. Broader implementation and long-term evaluation are warranted.