Changes in foot health trends are beginning to demand significant changes to foot health provision globally, for which appropriate provision to retail and health services is key. With the right input to innovation and design, footwear can help keep us fit and active and contribute to our overall wellbeing, creating exciting opportunities for the footwear market. Likewise, the development of orthotic materials, designs and manufacturing processes is enabling more complex solutions to equally complex developing foot conditions. There are three key issues driving the demand for specific footcare; the global increase in the number of people with diabetes, those who are obese and the fact we are all living longer. The populations of diabetic, elderly and obese adults require specific footcare solutions to meet the specific characteristics of their foot health issues such as wider-fit footwear and pressure relieving orthotic materials. Characteristics of these populations' feet relating to their morphology, tissue characteristics, vascular supply and sensation impact on their requirements from footwear. Additional characteristics relating to their overall health such as excess mass and instability additionally impact on the wear on the loading of the footwear and design features which may be beneficial
