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Routine Foot & Ankle Care: Foot Care & Safety for Older Adults


 

Age-Related Foot & Ankle Problems

  • Foot deformities
  • Skin and nail changes
  • Decreased bone strength
  • Arthritis
  • Other health problems

Deformities & Aging

  • Bunions, hammertoes, flatfeet, etc.
  • Many are progressive conditions
  • Symptoms get worse
  • Can cause corns and calluses
  • Foot gets stiffer
  • More difficult to get relief from cushions, inserts  or pads

Age-Related Skin Changes

  • Skin becomes thinner
    • Too much standing or walking
    • Corns and calluses
  • Cushioning becomes thinner
  • Pain when standing or walking

Age-Related Toenail Changes

  • Thickened or discolored
  • Difficult to trim
  • Fungal infections

Age-Related Bone Changes

  • Bone density often decreases
  • Can lead to osteoporosis
  • Stress fractures 

Arthritis

  • Can develop in any joint
  • Associated with “wear and tear” of the body
  • Progresses with age
  • Can occur in the big toe or ankle
    • Makes walking difficult
    • Can produce corns and calluses

Other Age-Related Health Problems

  • Decreased ability to heal
  • Hypertension
  • Diabetes
  • Gout

What Can You Do?

Foot Deformities: What to Do

  • Non-surgical treatment options are always offered 1st
    • Footwear modifications, padding, shoe inserts/customorthotics, injections, etc.
  • Surgery
    • Dr. Cottom will determine if this is advisable

Skin Problems: What to Do

  • Self-examine your feet
  • To help prevent cracks and cuts
    • Moisturize your feet
  • To help prevent corns and calluses
    • Make sure your shoes fit properly
  • To treat corns and calluses
    • Surgeon can trim down
    • Topical medicine
    • Over-the-counter padding

Toenail Problems: What to Do

  • See a foot and ankle surgeon
  • Proper footwear
  • Medication for fungal infection
  • Trim toenails

Stress Fractures: What to Do

  • Don’t overdo exercise
  • Walk on good surfaces
  • Wear supportive shoes
  • Maintain good bone health
  • See Dr. Cottom for an appropriate plan

Arthritis: What to Do

  • Rest, Ice, Elevate the painful area
  • Bracing
  • Modify activities
  • Proper footwear
  • Injections (Cortisone or STEM cell)
  • Surgery is a last resort that can correct the problem with a fusion or joint replacement

Visit Florida Orthopedic Foot & Ankle Center for Routine Foot Care

  • Toenail trimming
  • Corns
  • Calluses
  • Other problems
  • We can provide all these services at Florida Orthopedic Foot & Ankle Center
What we offer

Services

Location

Florida Orthopedic Foot & Ankle Center
5741 Bee Ridge Road, Suite 490
Sarasota, FL 34233
Phone: 941-924-8777
Fax: 941-924-5888

Office Hours

Get in touch

941-924-8777