Given aging population is quickly growing, as in 2030 1 in 6 people in the world will be aged > 60 years, it becomes critical to ensure quality healthcare for the elderly.

This study aimed to understand the complex relationship between foot deformities and the use of compression stockings in the elderly by gathering specific morphological data from this group.

This mixed-method study included older adults (age ≥ 55 years), regardless of whether they wore compression stockings. A 3D image of each subject's foot was obtained using the CE scanner ‘RS SCAN’; and personal data was gathered through questionnaires and through structured interviews of professionals involved with medical compression systems.

The study included 181 individuals aged from 55 to 97 years; 66% had a foot deformity. Hallux valgus was the most frequent (30.4%) followed by claw toes (20.4%) and overlapping toes (10.5%), the rate of those deformities increased linearly with age. In this subset, 27.6% wore compression stockings and 7.7% had stopped despite recommendations, mostly due to discomfort (50%) as 71.4% suffered from at least one foot deformity. Specific measurements at the hallux valgus or quintus varus locations showed a significant squeezing effect of the compression stockings.

The study's demographic distribution, with 181 participants evenly split between men and women and an age range of 55 to 97 years, provides a robust sample for analyzing the impact of medical compression stockings and foot deformities. The age-related increase in deformities further emphasizes the need for early detection and management strategies. This study collected foot measurements specifically from elderly participants and compared those with measurements from national databases. Current compression methods do not adapt well to all foot morphologies, leading some patients to refuse Medical Compression Stockings (MCS) in favor of comfort or to poorly adapted MCS, which significantly affects their effectiveness and tolerance, ultimately leading to poor compliance.

This study characterizes elderly foot morphology and is the first to document the challenges and impact of compression stockings on deformed feet; highlighting the need for improved designs and personalized solutions that accommodate foot deformities. This approach supports developing comfortable, tailored products to improve compliance and quality of life for elderly patients.