Definition
Geriatric foot care is very important for the aging foot. It is very important to prevent any foot problems because reduced circulation, decreased flexibility and reduced stability. Some age related changes include, but are not limited to dry skin, corns and calluses, thick nails and prominent bones.
Causes
Many of the foot conditions affecting the geriatric population start out years earlier. Several factors contribute to these issues such as heredity, gait patterns, level of activity, quality of footwear, decreased fat pads on the bottom of the feet and other systemic diseases.
Treatment and Prevention
The goal of treatment is to prevent problems before they occur and prevent them from worsening if they already occurred. It is important for them or an assistant to examine their feet daily for any changes. Custom foot orthotics are beneficial for decreasing pressure points and increasing stability.
Routine nail care and callus reduction is important to prevent foot injuries. These injuries could be due to the inability to reach the feet when cutting the toenails, increased pressure from calluses or corns and the potential of having an issue going undiagnosed.