Importance of Foot Care for Seniors
Lower limbs and feet are a complex connection of tendons, ligaments, bones, and muscles. Ankle strength and mobility can be greatly impeded by ageing. Podiatrists are an essential part of your elderly healthcare team. They provide services for the elderly foot care like assessing foot movement and lower limb mobility, testing functionality, providing exercises for long-term care, and if necessary, utilising therapeutic techniques to assist with rehabilitation and healing.
What Conditions Can Your Podiatrist Help Assess?
The Foot Practice can provide you with the appropriate foot care for seniors, whether it is for you or your loved one. A few conditions our podiatrist can assist with are:
- Arthritis/Osteoarthritis. Arthritis is an exceptionally common condition among the elderly with swelling and tenderness at the joints. One common condition is osteoarthritis, where the protective cartilage between the ends of bones wears down. This results in pain, stiffness, and a loss of flexibility, all of which increase the chances of falls and injuries. The Foot Practice can provide tips on foot care for seniors by managing arthritis-related pains, such as recommendations on footwear or providing a medical pedicure to reduce unwanted friction on arthritic joints.
- Ankle stability. Ankle stability is pivotal in preventing fall-related injuries in the elderly. Geriatric podiatry not only handles current injuries but prevents future complications as well. Our podiatrists specialising in elderly foot care can also recommend the right orthotic therapy to increase ankle stability as well as regular exercises to improve ankle mobility and strength.
- Diabetic feet. Diabetics’ feet are at risk of long-term chronic or debilitating conditions that may contribute to other health complications. Diabetes-related nerve conditions limit the feeling in the feet, leaving wounds unnoticed and untended. The restriction of blood flow to the feet exposes cuts to potential infections. Coupled with age-related issues like reduced mobility, diabetic feet among the elderly are hot spots for infection that lead to other disorders and health issues. Our podiatrists can provide you with elderly foot care services like diabetic foot screenings, which will assess the impact of diabetes on the foot and provide critical care and crucial treatment.
What Other Services Do Podiatrists Provide For Elderly Patients?
At The Foot Practice, we provide a broad range of podiatrist services for the elderly. These include orthotic therapy, diabetic foot screenings, 3D Gait Analysis, and medical pedicures. Many older individuals are simply unable to maintain proper nail care, especially when it comes to toenails. Medical pedicures can be very helpful in elderly foot care, where our experienced podiatrists trim thickened or ingrown toenails, handle calluses or corns, and even diabetic foot ulcers. Our services include:
- 3D Gait Analysis to assess walking and mobility
- General assessment of the foot and lower limb
- Help select appropriate and comfortable footwear
- Customise orthotics and shoe insoles to address painful movement
- Provide advice for medical conditions (e.g., arthritis)
- Diabetic Foot Care
- Diabetic Foot Screening
Geriatric foot care is important and should be a part of your regular healthcare routine just like a visit to your primary care physician. If you would like to find out more about foot care as you age, make an appointment at The Foot Practice today to discuss foot care for seniors to address lower back pain, foot and ankle injuries or other limb discomforts.
