Aging Feet/Geriatric Feet/Senior Foot Care

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Your feet carry and support your entire body weight throughout your lifetime! Because of this fact, everyone's feet tend to experience wear and tear as we age. Our feet is the foundation for our bodies, that is why it is important that we care for our feet on a daily basis. This is especially important in old age (your golden years), when the feet are more prone to developing certain conditions. Some common foot complications that tend to affect elderly patients include arthritis, changes in the overall foot structure, bunions, fungal or ingrown toenails, and generalized foot pain.

 

Elderly Foot Care: Common Problems

 

Some of the most common problems are ingrown toenails, fallen arches, fungal infection, and foot ulcers. An ingrown toenail is defined as when the nail grows into the side of the toe or when the skin and toenail grows together. Fallen arches are indicated by the instep of the foot collapsing. A fungal infection is a condition that results in deformed and discolored toenails. A foot ulcer is an open sore on the foot and  can be a result of decreased sensation in the feet.

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As we age, our feet tend to grow in size. If you’re not regularly changing your footwear to properly and comfortably fit the size of your feet, and in turn, are constricting your toes, it is likely you may develop a bunion or hammertoe. These conditions can be incredibly uncomfortable and may cause a great deal of pain if not properly treated by a podiatrist. Caring for our feet can become more difficult as we age.

 

In order to help avoid incorrectly cutting the toenails, it’s advised that you seek the care of a podiatrist who can trim your toenails properly, preventing the formation of an ingrown toenail.

 

The older we get, the more our chances of having arthritis increases. Arthritis tends to be the cause of foot pain, as well as stiffness, and can even lead to the development of the foot conditions listed above. Patients have found relief from the discomfort caused by arthritis by wearing custom orthotics, as well as including light stretches in their daily routine.

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Proper foot hygiene is also important. Making sure that you always have clean, dry socks on can be a major deterrent to many different problems, including bacterial infections, foot odor, and certain types of fungus. Wet feet are a major cause of many of these problems.  If your socks get wet, it is important to change them. Walking around in wet socks may not only lead to various infections, but can irritate the skin and result in a number of various complications. Clean, dry feet are less likely to be affected by fungal and other infections.

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For more information and tips on maintaining proper health for geriatric feet, we recommend you consult with a Philadelphia foot doctor for professional care and guidance.