Common Foot Problems in the Elderly

As we age, many seniors suffer from chronic foot pain that includes stress fractures, tendonitis, fat pad atrophy, plantar fasciitis, acute and chronic osteoarthritis and more.  Sometimes the problem can be the result of old injuries, or in the case of women, wearing high heels or shoes with too small of a toe box.  Other foot problems may be caused by systemic diseases like diabetes, lupus, gout, and rheumatoid arthritis.

In the case of stress fractures, they are more commonly found in post-menopausal women with osteoporosis but men can also suffer from them.  If you are at risk, experts recommend strengthening your bones by exercising, and if you are overweight, by dieting.  They also say to talk to your doctor to ask if you should be on a medication.    

While osteoarthritis (OA) is caused by the mechanical wear and tear on joints and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease that attacks the joints, both can cause tenderness, pain, or stiffness and swelling in the feet, and make mobility more difficult.  Sometimes RA even causes alignment changes that result in foot deformities.  

Another common problem especially for seniors is fat pad atrophy.  Even if you have put on a few extra pounds with age, the one place you do not want to lose fat or a cushioned padding is on the bottom of your feet.  Fat pad atrophy causes pain in the ball of your foot and heel and can be eased by extra cushioning or custom-made foam shoe inserts.  In the most extreme cases, filler injections are used to replace the fat pad.    

Also the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons report that approximately 2 million patients each year are treated for plantar fasciitis that occurs when the strong band of tissue that supports the arch of your foot becomes irritated and inflamed.  Plantar fasciitis is typically the result of repetitive strain to the ligament of the sole of the foot and is caused by walking, running, jumping, or poor footwear. Treatments include icing to reduce pain and inflammation, stretching exercises, and shoe inserts.  

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