September 1999
The Director - Features
Feet 101
A primer for women on coping with foot and joint disorders
The number of women entering funeral service has dramatically increased in the past decade. Funeral service is physically demanding business and many women in the profession suffer from conditions that challenge their abilities to meet these physical demands.
Women in funeral service also face a unique physical demand. Most of them want to present a professional image when they appear before the public and the ultimate accessory for most women is a killer pair of high-heeled shoes. Wearing the wrong shoes can lead to not only discomfort, put permanent damage to toes, feet and joints.
Feet 101—A primer for women on coping with foot and joint disorders focuses on the health challenges of women in funeral service, including rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis and common foot disorders such as bunions, hammertoes, corns and calluses. It also includes a checklist for preventive maintenance and describes how to give yourself a pedicure.
The article was written by Leslie M. Keenan, a licensed funeral service practitioner. Keenan teaches pathology, microbiology, anatomy and chemistry at Fayetteville Technical Community College School of Funeral Service Education.
