22 Jun Footwear and Falls Prevention
Falls can have painful, devastating impacts on people of all ages, including their ability to stay mobile, independent, and keep doing the things they love.
The good news is that falls are not an inevitable part of ageing – on the contrary – most falls are highly preventable. Today, our podiatrists have shared how we help with falls using a range of techniques and modifications, including footwear – and why this is so important.
Older Adults Have A Higher Risk Of Falls
In New Zealand, falls are the single most common cause of injury in older adults. Every year, one in three people over 65 injures themselves in a fall, rising to one in two for those aged 80 years or older. Sadly, up to 20% of these falls result in significant injury, hospitalisation or even death – and the most common place this happens is in the comfort of our own home.,
Older adults that are hospitalised with strains or hip fractures may require increased care, as complex injuries and ongoing disability can mean that they are no longer able to care for themselves, prepare meals or complete everyday tasks on their own. Falls can also deflate a person’s confidence and emotional wellbeing, whether they cause injury or not. Simply fearing a fall can make you more prone to depression, anxiety and isolation as you withdraw from the outside world and stay home, avoiding activities and social connections.
Why Are Falls More Common With Age?
Falls are more common as you get older due to a range of physical factors related to the ageing process, as well as environmental factors. Physical factors within a person’s body can include:
- Changes in balance, coordination and walking
- Reduced reflexes
- Other existing injuries
- Medical conditions or diseases that may alter proprioception (the body’s ability to perceive its own position in space)
- Vision changes
- Loss of muscle strength. Muscle weakness in your feet and legs can increase your likelihood of having a fall by over four times
Environmental factors can include:
- Hazards around the home environment
- Lighting in your home – harsh sunlight, shadows, or dim lighting
- Side effects from medications. Taking benzodiazepines, for example, is associated with an increase of as much as 44% in the risk of hip fracture and night falls in older adults
- Improper fitting, heavy or unsupportive footwear
How Can Shoes Increase The Risk Of Falls?
Some footwear can increase the risk of slips, trips and falls by making people more prone to poor balance and bad gait, or by making it difficult to judge surface friction and distance from the floor. Examples of unsuitable footwear for the elderly include:
- Loose, worn-out or backless slippers – these are one of the most common causes of older people tripping and falling
- Slip-on shoes, such as flip-flops and sandals can slip off the foot and cause you to trip
- Shoes with slippery or old, worn soles can reduce friction and contribute to a slip, especially in wet weather or when in a bathroom or swimming area
- Shoes with a high or narrow heel can make your ankle unstable and can cause it to turn
What Are The Characteristics Of A Safe Shoe?
Well-fitting and supportive shoes prescribed by a podiatrist can greatly improve walking, posture and gait, and provide stability to prevent falls. The characteristics of a safe shoe include:
- A high back or collar to firmly support the ankle
- A firm, slip-resistant sole with excellent grip even when wet
- A heel height lower than 2.5cm
- A wide sole for a stable foundation
- A strong Velcro® fastener on the front to ensure they won’t slip off
- A wide opening makes it easier to get your foot in and out of the shoe which is important if you have restricted mobility
- A ‘house-shoe’, which can offer the comfort of a slipper, but with the stable support of a shoe
How Else Can Podiatrists Help To Prevent Falls?
Podiatry is proven to help prevent falls, and studies have found that effective fall prevention in older adults needs three key elements: exercise, education and home or environmental modifications. Along with shoe selection and prescription, podiatrists help those who are worried about falls, or that have had a previous fall, to reduce their fall risk by:
- Identifying muscle weakness, tightness, posture and balance problems as well as other musculoskeletal issues, then creating exercise and rehab plans to address these factors to help regain mobility and stability
- Suggesting wearable supports, like splints or braces, to support your stability and movement. These may be general braces that are already in stock, or may be custom-made for you if you have problems like drop foot where a tailored device may give the best results
- Using custom foot orthotics to improve stability, foot function, and to offload any painful or stiff joints that may be hindering your mobility
- Providing gait retraining support
- Referring you to other health professionals, including occupational therapists for a home assessment to remove tripping hazards, alter lighting or fit extra handlebars, and optometrists to assess new vision changes
Falls Prevention Care At Masterton Foot Clinic
At Masterton Foot Clinic, we are passionate about falls prevention because of the large impact it can have on the lives of both the person at risk of falling and on their families and loved ones.
We understand that it’s not just a physical injury we’re preventing – but the impact on a person’s confidence, independence, social interactions and quality of life – at every age.
If someone in your family has had a fall or they’re at risk of falling – our podiatry team is here to help. We offer a free foot measure and shoe advice service and we have a range of footwear suitable for all age groups.
Book an appointment by calling 06 370 4057 or online here.