A short presentation to help prevent falls in the elderly

1. Falls, foot care and
footwear
Cameron Kippen
toeslayer2000@yahoo.com.au

2. Falls: Why do we fall?
Aging changes the way we
walk making tripping and
slipping all the more likely.
This is made more obvious with
arthritis and painful joints,
unsteady balance and blood
pressure problems, as well as
failing eyesight and sore feet.

3. Falls: Changes in walking patterns
 Slower walking cycle
 Increased sway
 Problems in controlling balance
 Reduced toe clearance

4. Falls: What makes things worse
 Arthritis or painful knees, hips, neck and
spine.
 Balance and blood pressure problems.
 Failing eyesight and sore feet.

5. Falls: Pattern of Falls
 Men slip,
 fall more in cold weather &
usually out doors.
 Men change their behaviour
to avoid further incidents
 Women trip,
 no seasonal pattern and fall
indoors.
 Reluctant to change their
habits

6. Falls: People most likely to fall
 Those living with long term conditions such as heart
conditions, diabetes, Parkinson’s Disease, arthritis,
osteoporosis, high/low blood pressure, depression
and dementia do have an increase the risk of falling.
 Sore feet can also lead to unsteadiness, poor
posture and imbalance. Things which contribute
include: muscle or joint stiffness, poor vision, pain
and lack of energy and or concentration.

7. Falls: How do we prevent them?
 Keep active with regular
exercise
 Take care to avoid obstacles
 Wear comfortable shoes
 Enjoy good foot health

8. Falls: How do we prevent them?
 Reducing falls risk
 Stay mobile
 Be active
 Improve walking patterns and balance
 Monitor your medications
 Check with your doctor

9. Falls: What is the best exercise ?
 Exercise all parts of the body:
– walking, swimming and dancing. So too is active
gardening, housekeeping and walking the dog.
 Focus activities on balance:
– tai chi, yoga, pilates
 Strength training and fitness
– try aerobics or aqua-aerobics.

10. Falls: Get prepared
 Check out the feet
– Trim the nails
– Pamper the skin
– See a podiatrist

11. Footcare: Monitoring and maintenance
 Check the feet daily
 Keep them clean and
the skin, soft
 Avoid self harm with
razors and sharp
cutting tools
 Pamper the feet
 See the podiatrist

12. Footcare: Common Problems
See the
podiatrist

13. Footwear: How safe are your shoes?
 Inappropriate footwear
can excite foot problems
 The wrong style of shoe
can increase the risk of
slipping and tripping

14. Footwear: The Facts
 Shoes have never been made to fitShoes have never been made to fit
human feet.human feet.
 People have preferred shoe stylesPeople have preferred shoe styles
and are resistant to changeand are resistant to change
 People avoid changing their shoesPeople avoid changing their shoes
during the dayduring the day
 Most reported falls do not involveMost reported falls do not involve
footwear.footwear.

15. Footwear: Assessment
Good FitGood Fit
 Comfort is the key.
 Shoes need to give
support and match
physical conditions.

16. Footwear: Assessment
Ideally feet should
be fitted to shoes,
with attention to
length, breadth,
volume and depth

17. Footwear: Assessment
Width
Shoe shape should match
foot shape. The outsole
is narrower than the foot.
Volume
The bulk of the foot is
accommodated within
the upper.

18. Footwear: Assessment
 Depth
The shoe should cradle
the arch
A shallow shoe across
the mid foot restricts
natural movement.
Appropriate depth
should be available at
the toe box

19. Footwear: Assessment
Firm fastening and
flexibility

20. Footwear: Assessment
 Toplines
The ankle bones
must lie clear of the
topline
The topline should
comfortable nestle
against the foot

21. Footwear: Assessment
Heel support

22. Footwear: Assessment
Clean Treads
Hidden dangers

23. Footwear: The Right Shoe
 Best fit
 Accommodate width
and depth
 Restrain the foot in the
shoe
 Snug heel fit
 Appropriate heel height
 Avoid pressure points
and have cushioned
insole

24. Footwear: Assessment
Heel Support
Firm heel counter stabilises
the rearfoot
Shoe should fit snugly
around the heel sufficient to
avoid heel slippage

25. Footwear: Assessment
Heel Designs
A graded heel prevents
jarring at heel strike
Broader heels reduce
peak pressures
Lower heels make the
shoe more stable

26. Copyright
Commonwealth of Australia
Copyright Regulations 1969
WARNING
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