The importance of our feet is often overlooked but many times that is an oversight, especially as we age. Strong, healthy feet reduce the risk of injuries due to falls and as we get older, the risk of having a serious injury from falling increases. Not only are seniors at an increased risk of falling, when an incident does occur, it poses a greater risk of serious harm including hospitalization and possible complications in the future. For a better approach to fall prevention, seniors and our aging population should begin by assessing the health of their feet.
We know that core strength and strong feet help to prevent falls, especially in the elderly but even when being proactive by exercising and caring for your feet, accidents still occur. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC):
- About 36 million falls are reported among older adults each year—resulting in more than 32,000 deaths.
- Each year, about 3 million older adults are treated in emergency departments for a fall injury.
- One out of every five falls causes an injury, such as broken bones or a head injury.
- Each year at least 300,000 older people are hospitalized for hip fractures.
- More than 95% of hip fractures are caused by falling—usually by falling sideways.
- Women fall more often than men and account for three-quarters of all hip fractures.
Harvard Medical School acknowledged that most falls result in only minor scrapes and bruises but a fall can also have a mental impact on the person who experienced it, creating a fear of falling. They went on to say that, “a significant minority of falls among older people do result in a major physical injury — broken bones, serious cuts, bad bangs to the head. Some of those injuries (hip fractures especially) lead to disability — or worse. Roughly 18,000 older Americans die each year from injuries sustained during a fall.”
Although the causes of falling vary from person to person, most experts agree that there are steps that can be taken to reduce the risk of falling and it starts by reducing or eliminating foot pain all together. Pain in the foot is uncomfortable and can cause balance issues. Often times if one foot is in pain, the other foot is favored when standing, walking or while performing other activities. By managing foot pain, it can provide the opposite reaction of favoring one foot or the other by improving balance, stability and overall coordination. Here are a few recommendations to keep feet healthy and reduce the risk of serious injuries due to falls.
- Don’t ignore foot pain: Pain doesn’t normally occur just due to aging. If you do experience foot pain, many times the conditions are treatable. That being the case, it’s extremely important to address the situation with a licensed podiatrist before the pain becomes worse.
- Assess your feet daily: We all know that beyond genetics and other outside forces, protecting your health is the responsibility of the individual. If you notice pain, bumps or other changes in your feet it’s important to have a professional take a look.
- Exercise and flexibility: Stretching, light cardio and strength training will help you maintain mobility and possibly help relieve pain. Be sure to talk with your physician before undergoing new exercise routines.
- Choosing the proper fit: Proper shoes including insoles, gels and paddings will help keep your feet pain free (or at least reduce it) throughout the day. Be sure you’re choosing the right size and shape when picking out footwear.
Understanding the risks of falling and the benefits of monitoring and maintain healthy feet will keep our seniors and aging population mobile and on the move for years to come. It takes just one fall to completely uproot a person’s lively hood and overall quality of life. If you’re feeling pain in your feet and want to address the situation before it becomes worse, make an appointment with your podiatrist to diagnose and make recommendations to resolve the issue. Mobility and safety can start with taking care of your feet which may reduce the risk of life-altering accidents.