Elderly Can Reduce Risk of Falling

Elderly Can Reduce Risk of Falling

It is no secret that, as we age, walking can get a little trickier. At one point in our lives, we were quite stable on our feet. We could move agilely and gracefully. Now that we are getting older by the second, some of these simple tasks have become a little bit harder than they used to be. A lot of the reason that things are harder is due to pain in aging feet. Our feet are not supposed to hurt at any age. If you begin to feel pain in your feet, it means that something is amiss and you need to see your podiatrist.

Prevention

Preventing a fall all begins with taking inventory of your symptoms and taking care of your overall health. A person who has a poor diet, lack of sleep, and virtually no way to get exercise is much more likely to have a foot or ankle problem. Instead of hanging around at home, take the initiative and get up and out of the house. Just by getting up and out for an hour a day, you are preventing illness like diabetes, arthritis, and bursitis from sinking into your feet and ankles.

Other ways to reduce falls:

  • Now that you are living a healthy lifestyle, it is time to take steps specifically to help prevent falls. The first step is to make a safe environment for yourself. Make sure there is no clutter on the floors. Check in with your doctor if you have any dizzy spells. Also, have a friend or family member check in with you regularly to see how you are and to ensure you are okay.
  • Talk to your doctor about current health conditions. For example, if you have diabetes and are starting to feel numb in the feet, you could have peripheral neuropathy. This can lessen feeling in the legs and cause a fall.
  • Get some orthotics. If you are unstable on your feet because of discomfort in your shoes, then it’s time to ask your foot doctor about orthotics. They are custom-made for your foot and allow you to move around normally. They are great for stabilization and can help prevent falls.
  • See your podiatrist regularly. This will allow for proper checkups and check-ins about aches and pain. Your feet could be suffering from hundreds of different conditions, but you would never know unless you saw a podiatrist. Many feet and ankle conditions are treatable and preventable if caught early on.

There are many ways to prevent a fall from occurring. The best choice is to schedule regular checkups with a podiatrist. Not only will this ensure proper foot health, but it will also ensure your safety. Call a podiatrist today. Call Dr. Alan J. Discont and Dr. Krahn of Family Foot & Ankle Care, PC located in Chandler, Arizona. The number is 480-732-0033 or make an appointment online today. Prevention is key.