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Seniors: How Healthy Feet Can Reduce Your Risk of Falling
Special to The Truth
Among older Americans,
falls are the number one cause of injuries and death from
injury, according to the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention. Not only are seniors more at risk for falls,
when they do so, it poses a greater risk for injuries,
hospitalization and complications. For a ground-up approach
to fall prevention, seniors should start by examining the
health of their feet.
“Painful foot conditions,
such as osteoarthritis, corns, bunions, hammertoes and
diabetes complications, can make it difficult for seniors to
maintain balance and coordination when walking or standing,”
says Michael Ambroziak, DPM, FACFAS, a board-certified foot
and ankle surgeon and Fellow Member of the American College
of Foot and Ankle Surgery (ACFAS). “Compounding the issue is
that the very exercises intended to correct risk factors for
falls, such as lower-body weakness, as well as gait and
balance problems, are made difficult to perform when one is
suffering from painful foot and ankle conditions.”
While the factors causing
falls are numerous, experts say that seniors, and everybody
for that matter, can take steps to reduce their risk by
minimizing or even eliminating foot pain. Doing so will
improve balance, coordination and stability when walking or
standing.
Foot and ankle surgeons
recommend the following ways to help keep feet and ankles
healthy:
• Don’t ignore pain: Foot
pain is not just a normal consequence of growing older, so
don’t resign yourself to aching and suffering. You likely
have a treatable condition. For a proper diagnosis and
intervention, be sure to pay attention to your feet and see
a foot and ankle surgeon if and when you experience pain.
• Examine your feet: You
are the gatekeeper of your own health, making regular
at-home foot examinations critical. At the sign of bumps,
lumps or other changes in your feet, make an appointment
with your foot and ankle surgeon.
• Exercise: Simple
stretching exercises can help you maintain strength and
mobility in your feet and ankles, as well as provide pain
relief. Talk to your physician about appropriate exercises
for you.
• Protect: Use padding,
insoles or whatever special footwear you are prescribed. Be
sure to wear these, along with comfortable, sensible shoes,
every day.
• Be flexible: Know that
at times, surgery is the most appropriate treatment for a
given condition. Fortunately, many simple surgical
techniques allow foot surgery to be performed on an
outpatient basis.
For more ways for to keep
feet and ankles healthy, prevent falls or to find a foot and
ankle surgeon near you, visit FootHealthFacts.org, the
patient education website for ACFAS. Foot and ankle surgeons
are experts in providing both conservative care as well as
surgical approaches to foot and ankle healthcare.
Remember, just one fall
can permanently rob seniors of their independence and
dramatically reduce their quality of life. Taking good care
of feet and ankles however can reduce the risk of a
life-altering slip, trip or fall.
Courtesy StatePoint
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