GERIATRIC FOOT
Foot pathologies occur at different ages, but after age 60 we must face all that we ignored during all our life. Age, per se, is not a pathology. Nevertheless, as time goes by, some of the problems have a tendency to worsen for most of us. Often, seniors face common conditions such as cutting hypertrophic or dystrophic nails, a task that some elderly people may find very difficult to perform, or must manage other chronic foot conditions. The podiatrist’s aim is to maintain the well-being and also the mobility of the patient.
Common problems such as swollen and painful feet and difficulty walking may seriously limit the self-sufficiency of the elderly and his/her well-being. Wearing non physiological shoes, walking on distressing surfaces, tiredness and weight may often cause minor ailments due to age-related physiological changes in the foot structure that is no longer elastic. In order to re-establish a good individual autonomy, periodic podiatric treatment, adequate shoes in conjunction with custom-made foot orthotics and orthotic devices are the solutions to better manage these problems.
Foot pathologies occur at different ages, but after age 60 we must face all that we ignored during all our life. Age, per se, is not a pathology. Nevertheless, as time goes by, some of the problems have a tendency to worsen for most of us. Often, seniors face common conditions such as cutting hypertrophic or dystrophic nails, a task that some elderly people may find very difficult to perform, or must manage other chronic foot conditions. The podiatrist’s aim is to maintain the well-being and also the mobility of the patient.
Common problems such as swollen and painful feet and difficulty walking may seriously limit the self-sufficiency of the elderly and his/her well-being. Wearing non physiological shoes, walking on distressing surfaces, tiredness and weight may often cause minor ailments due to age-related physiological changes in the foot structure that is no longer elastic. In order to re-establish a good individual autonomy, periodic podiatric treatment, adequate shoes in conjunction with custom-made foot orthotics and orthotic devices are the solutions to better manage these problems.