Foot
Proper Shoe Gear And Selection
Shoes can both protect and deform. When selecting shoe gear it is important for the shoe to be comfortable at the time of purchase. Certain shoe materials will stretch with time but deformity forces placed on your foot can cause serious conditions. Shoes should be inspected for any areas of rubbing or tightness. It is best to use shoe size as a guide, shop in the middle of the day to account for possible swelling, and bring socks that are normally worn with the shoe. If a special insert or orthotic is worn it should be brought.
People with diabetes need to pay particular attention to the shoes they purchase. Due to their predisposition for neuropathy all shoes should be inspected for foreign objects or areas of irritation before wearing. Going barefoot should be avoided. In some cases special molded shoes are the best option for the diabetic foot. In the case of a short leg, special shoes with lifts may be required.
Feet play an important part in daily activities. As the older population ages, proper foot health will help to maintain quality of life. Keeping active is important and paying attention to and addressing foot ailments is a part of this. With a little prevention and modification and consistent attention, the elderly population should be able to maintain good foot health.
DONNA M. ALFIERI
See also ARTHRITIS; DIABETES MELLITUS.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
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Administration on Aging. (1999). "Profile of Older Americans." Available on the Internet at www.aoa.dhhs.gov/
American Podiatric Medical Association. "Foot Facts." Available on the Internet at www.apma.org.faq GILCHRIST, K. G. "Common Foot Problems on the Elderly." Geriatrics 34, no. 11 (1979): 67–70.
HABERSHAW, G. M., and LYONS, T. E. "Foot Health for the Elderly Patient." In Care of the Elderly Clinical Aspects of Aging, 4th ed. Edited by W. Reichel. Baltimore, Md.: Williams and Wilkins, 1995. Pages 356–364.
HELFAND, A. E. Clinics in Podiatric Medicine and Surgery. 10, no. 1 (January 1993). New York. LEVIN, M. E.; O'NEAL, L.; and BOWKER, J. H. The Diabetic Foot, 5th ed. St. Louis, Mo.: Mobsy Year Book, 1993.
MENZ, H. B., and LORD, S. R. "Foot Problems, Functional Impairment, and Falls in Older People." Journal of the American Podiatric Medical Association 89, no. 9 (1999): 458–467.
MUNRO, B. J., and STEELE, J. R. "Foot-Care Awareness: A Survey of Persons Aged 65 Years and Older." Journal of the American Podiatric Medical Association 88, no. 5 (1998): 242–248.
National Institute for Health. "Older, Disabled Women Have Trouble Managing Pain." News Release, 15 June 1999. Available on the Internet at http://nih.gov/nia/news/
National Institute for Health. "New Census Report Shows Exponential Growth in Number of Centenarians." Available on the Internet at http://nih.gov/nia/news/
REDMOND, A.; ALLEN, N.; and VERNON, WESLEY. "Effect of Scalpel Debridement on the Pain Associated with Plantar Hyperkeratosis." Journal of the American Podiatric Medical Association 89, no. 10 (1999): 515–519.
SPENCE, A. P. Biology of Human Aging, 2d ed. Englewood Cliffs, N.J.: Prentice Hall, 1995.
WARD, K., and KOSINSKI, M. "Podiatry." In Brocklehurst's Textbook of Geriatric Medicine and Gerontology, 5th ed. Edited by Raymond Tallis, Howard Fillit, and J. C. Brocklehurst. New York: Churchill Livingstone, 1998. Pages 1235–1240.
Additional topics
Medicine EncyclopediaAging Healthy - Part 2Foot - Nail Conditions, Skin Conditions, Joint And Bone Conditions, Circulatory Conditions, Proper Shoe Gear And Selection