American medical science began to study the human foot after World War II, when a great many American soldiers who had suffered foot injuries required special medical treatment. The manufacture of orthopedic footwear and auxiliary equipment proved to be particularly troublesome for conventional medicine.
美國醫學界對足部的研究，源起於二次世界大戰後，大量的美國傷兵因足部傷殘需要專業的醫療照護，特別是醫療鞋具與輔具的製作，讓傳統西醫大感棘手。