Despite being better well aware of how dangerous falls can be, many people don’t realise that their feet play a vital role in balance to manage mobility potentially decades earlier. Good feet play an essential role in your stability and confidence.
The Foundation of Balance
What is happening is that we feel everything through our feet - they have thousands of nerve endings and are constantly talking to the brain about proprioception (our body sense) and touch information from the ground. Foot health not only provides a foundational mechanical base to our gait, foot and ankle mechanics help regulate global sensory information which keeps us upright. There are consequences when this communication system breaks down from changes in foot health including an increased risk of falling.
One cause falls: Sore, painful feet
Decreased sensitivity from things like diabetic neuropathy can make it difficult to feel irregular surfaces. Arthritis decreases your ability to quickly adjust balance, as the ankle has reduced flexibility. Bunions, hammertoes and other deformities will change your gait due to the balance point being changed.
Even having overgrown toenails start to dig at your feet while walking around in old sandals or that sharp corn sticking into the sole of your foot can cause you to walk differently and be unsteady.
The Footwear Factor
Another issue is poorly fitting shoes. Improper slippers, wearied soles from shoes, all of these lead to a higher tendency for falling. Good footwear is designed to cushion your step, support you in the right places and give you a good grip for movement reasons.
How Podiatrists Help
Podiatry gives people regular appointments and spots any problems before the person falls. For a Podiatrist Gloucester, visit https://www.propodiatry.co.uk/podiatry/podiatrist-gloucester/
Appropriate orthotics, tailored by podiatrists for added support; treatment to alleviate pain as a result of common gait disorders; advice on practical shoes and knowing your feet condition/likelihood of falls.
