Women's Musculoskeletal Foot Conditions Exacerbated by Shoe Wear: An Imaging Perspective

The predominance of several musculoskeletal foot conditions in women are largely the result of biomechanical alterations caused by ill-fitting shoes. In particular, the altered biomechanics (associated with high-heeled shoes and shoes with a narrowed toe box) has been linked to the genesis of hallux valgus, hammer toe deformity, Haglund syndrome, metatarsal stress fracture, Freiberg infraction, and Morton neuroma.

In reviewing the imaging findings of several of these conditions, we emphasize the role of radiographs, special radiographic views, and the utility of more costly studies, such as magnetic resonance imaging.