Healthy feet are vital to your overall health, mobility, and independence regardless of age. However, as the body ages and wear and tear builds over your life, your feet become increasingly fragile and susceptible to developing problems. Foot problems can lead to increased immobility, shutting down your ability to be active, which can significantly impact your overall health. For this reason, we offer specialized care for seniors so you can keep moving without pain and discomfort. Our experienced, knowledgeable foot care practitioners will end your aches and pains so you can continue enjoying your daily activities and keep up with the grandkids.
When should you visit a foot care practitioner?
We recommend that you keep a regular appointment with a foot care practitioner to ensure that your feet are taken care of and remain healthy. With age, your feet flatten and lose cushioning, and the health of your bones, ligaments, skin, and nails declines. The increased fragility and vulnerability of your feet makes it easier for foot conditions to develop, which can turn into serious, life-threatening complications if not regularly managed. Some common foot conditions experienced by the elderly include:
- Fungal infections
- Warts
- Heel Spurs
- Hammertoes
- Dry Skin
- Corns/Calluses
- Bunions
- Arthritis
You should seek an assessment by a foot care practitioner whenever changes or concerns arise. Some things to look out for that may indicate more significant health concerns include:
- Increased pain or discomfort
- Weak Nails
- Discoloration
- Numbness, tingling or loss of sensation
- Dry skin
Proper, professional foot care is especially important for those with cardiovascular disease, diabetes, or any condition that reduces blood circulation in the feet. Poor circulation increases the potential for infection, slows the natural healing process, and increases the risk for serious complications.
Additionally, as you age, self-care can pose a challenge. If you can’t reach your feet or see correctly, even simple tasks such as trimming toenails can promote serious injuries and increase the risk of infections. Careful, routine assessment, maintenance and monitoring by a foot care professional will help prevent complications and allow for early treatment of developing conditions before they spiral out of control.
Don’t hesitate!
Foot problems often worsen over time, so the earlier you seek treatment, the easier it is to optimize your future wellness and quality of life.
What to expect during your visit
During your appointment, your foot care practitioner will perform a comprehensive evaluation, diagnose new conditions, and offer treatment options to fix and prevent any problems. Here’s a quick overview of what you should expect during your visit:
Evaluation
Our evaluation process is straightforward and non-invasive, designed to quickly get to the root of the problem and develop optimal treatment options. During your visit, your evaluation may include:
- A review of your past medical history and the history of your present illness or conditions
- Comprehensive foot and lower limb inspection and physical assessment
- Biomechanical assessment and gait analysis: how you walk, stand and run, where your feet apply pressure, and how the energy generated from walking transfers through your body
- Assessing your daily footwear and self-care habits
- X-rays, vascular, dermatological or neurological exams and functional tests of all types depending on need
Foot problems are often associated with systemic, muscular, and skeletal health conditions throughout the body. We specifically look for signs of diabetes, kidney ailments, anemia, circulation issues, biomechanical problems, and other disorders that may require consultation with your family physician or another specialist.
Treatment
After your foot care practitioner completes their assessment, they’ll explain their findings and the treatment options available to you. Your treatment plan will vary depending on your condition and the details of your specific case, but it could include:
- Routine foot care: general cleaning and preventative maintenance; treatment of recurring conditions
- Orthotics: We may prescribe orthotics to reduce pain and help correct improper stance, positioning or movement.
- Stretches and muscle-strengthening exercises: Improve muscular imbalances and help develop proper positioning and movement.
- Medication or topical solutions: For infections and concerns such as warts, fungal nails and athlete’s foot.
- Cutting-edge therapies and techniques: Laser, near infra-red, microwave and stimulation therapies to promote deep-tissue healing, reduce pain and inflammation, improve circulation, and more.
- Rehabilitative massage: Improve circulation, stimulate healing, and reduce pain and inflammation.
- Foot care advice and education: Tips and techniques for maintaining foot health and preventing future complications when away from our office: advice on proper footwear, hygiene, at-home, self-care practices movement techniques, etc.
- Surgery: If you’ve developed a foot condition and it’s resistant to other treatments, your podiatrist can perform minor surgery to correct the issue and prevent it from recurring. Surgery is always a last-resort measure—except in rare circumstances, we’ll never recommend it unless all other options have failed.
For a more comprehensive look at our treatment options, head to our Treatments and Devices page.
We aim to design practical, realistic, fast-acting treatment plans that are at most a minor inconvenience and get you back to living healthy and pain-free as soon as possible. Through patient-doctor collaboration, we’ll work together to identify a proven, effective treatment plan that matches not only the needs of your condition but the needs of your specific situation and lifestyle.
Plan Your Visit
At Greenberg Podiatry, we believe that aging feet deserve extra care. Changes in mobility, physical ability and overall health condition can make caring for your feet on your own a challenge—but don’t worry, we’re here to help. Our Ottawa-based clinic offers comprehensive foot care for all demographics and the most modern, cutting-edge foot care techniques and treatments in the capital region. Together, we’ll correct your foot and ankle disorder, injury or concern and prevent new ones from developing so you can maintain your mobility and independence.
Whether you’re an Ottawa resident or just visiting, take a step in the right direction and book an appointment with Greenberg Podiatry.