June 2023

Healthy feet provide a good foundation for the entire body. For seniors, it is particularly important to maintain the health of the feet because it will help with difficulties related to balance, mobility, and independence. The goal is for seniors to have comfortable and healthy feet. Over the course of one’s life, the feet flatten and become wider. The natural fat padding wears down, and the bones and joints are impacted more by wear and tear. Simple things like a foot blister, an ankle sprain, or an ingrown toenail can lead to a host of health-related conditions which can hamper the quality of life. Elderly foot care can be maintained by washing, drying, and moisturizing the feet daily, and trimming toenails as needed. This can be done properly by cutting them straight across which may help to prevent ingrown toenails. Additionally, examining the feet often to monitor potential problems is helpful. If you are a senior, it is suggested that you incorporate a chiropodist among your healthcare providers to make sure your feet remain in as good shape as possible through your elderly years.

Foot problems can become increasingly common as we age, making everyday foot care especially important. To learn more about maintaining proper foot health, please consult with one of the specialists from Thornhill Foot Clinic. Our chiropodists will assess your condition and provide you with quality foot and ankle treatment. 

Common Foot Problems

Certain foot problems may be more likely to affect older adults. 

Some examples of foot conditions that can be common in older adults include: 

• Dry, cracked skin

• Calluses and corns

• Blisters

• Ingrown toenails

• Deformities such as bunions or hammertoes

• Fungal infections

• Plantar warts

Systemic conditions, such as diabetes or arthritis, are also more likely to affect older people and manifest symptoms in the feet and ankles. 

Daily Foot Care Tips

Having a daily foot care routine can help detect problems early on and prevent future issues. 

Things that you can do at home to care for your feet include: 

• Washing the feet daily with warm water, drying them thoroughly, and then applying a moisturizer 

• Trimming the toenails straight across and not too short to prevent ingrown toenails

• Performing daily foot exercises to improve foot strength and mobility

• Wearing shoes when walking to avoid injury

• Inspecting the feet daily for any cuts, scrapes, sores, or other abnormalities and seeking prompt treatment if any problems are discovered 

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact our office located in . We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot care needs.

Insects can crawl on our clothes and get on our skin without us even knowing it. The feet are closest to the ground, and can be an easy target. If you get an insect bite on your feet, there is often some swelling, and it can become infected. It is particularly important to get medical attention if you are allergic to the insect that has bitten you.  These signs can include a rash, respiratory problems, or other cold-like symptoms. Putting a cool compress on the bite can help reduce swelling. Taking an antihistamine can help relieve itching. Additionally, hydrating can aid in flushing poisons from the body. If you have been bitten by an insect on the foot, or if an allergic reaction develops, it is strongly suggested that you seek the counsel of a chiropodist that can administer appropriate treatment.

Foot pain is a common problem treated by chiropodists. If you have foot pain, please consult with one of the specialists from Thornhill Foot Clinic. Our chiropodists can help you maintain the health of your lower limbs and your mobility. 

When you are experiencing foot pain, it’s important to note the type of pain and its location, as this can help determine a diagnosis. 

Pain in the top of the foot may be caused by:

• Stress fractures

• Sinus tarsi syndrome

• Extensor tendonitis

• Tibialis anterior tendonitis

• Gout

• Athlete’s foot

• Ganglion cysts

Pain in the bottom of the foot may be caused by:

• Plantar fasciitis

• Foot cramps

• Tarsal tunnel syndrome

• Plantar fibromatosis

• Posterior tibial tendonitis

• Stress fractures

• Flat feet

Pain on the side of the foot may be caused by:

• Ankle sprain

• Cuboid syndrome

• Peroneal tendonitis

• Stress fractures

• Bunions

• Corns or calluses

• Posterior tibial tendonitis

Heel pain may be caused by:

• Plantar fasciitis

• Achilles tendonitis

• Bone spurs

• Heel fractures

• Retrocalcaneal bursitis

• Sever’s disease 

Pain in the toes may be caused by:

• Gout

• Hammertoe

• Turf toe 

• Bunions

• Ingrown toenails

• Blisters 

• Arthritis

These and many more conditions can be treated by a chiropodist. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact our office located in . We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot care needs.

A broken toe can be painful. The majority of people will experience immediate swelling, bruising, and discomfort after they have broken their toe. Conversely, some people are unaware they have broken their toe and it is often addressed as the pain level increases. A common reason to endure a broken toe may be stubbing it into a piece of furniture or dropping a heavy object on it. If the fracture is severe, a bone may protrude and will need to be realigned into its normal position. For mild breaks, many people find the buddy-taping method to be successful. This is done by taping the affected toe to the toe next to it to provide the stability that is needed as the healing process occurs. It is beneficial to keep weight off of the foot and this can be done by using crutches or wearing a protective boot. If you have broken your toe, it is suggested that you confer with a chiropodist who can effectively diagnose and treat a broken toe.

A broken toe typically occurs following either a sudden, traumatic injury, like dropping a heavy piece of furniture on the toe. The impact causes the bone to fracture and produces a variety of painful symptoms. If you suspect that you’ve broken your toe, please consult with one of the specialists from Thornhill Foot Clinic. Our chiropodists can help you maintain the health of your lower limbs and your mobility. 

Symptoms

• Throbbing pain

• Swelling

• Bruising

• Cracking sound at the time of injury

• Difficulty bearing weight on the toe

• Difficulty walking

• Toe resting at an unnatural angle

Diagnosis

Your chiropodist can diagnose a broken toe through physical examination and imaging studies, such as X-rays. 

Treatment

The main goals of treatment are to ensure that the bone heals properly, as a toe fracture that doesn’t heal properly can lead to osteoarthritis. You will typically need to rest the affected toe. You may be prescribed a splint to immobilize the toe while it heals. Icing the affected toe and taking over-the-counter medications can help reduce pain. In cases of severe fractures, surgery may be necessary to reset the broken bones and make sure that they heal correctly.  

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact our office located in . We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot care needs.

Skin fissures are cracks in the skin that are caused by dry and thickened skin. These can also come from underlying conditions and lifestyle factors. A common place to get such fissures is on the heels of the feet. The skin needs nutrients and food, such as proteins, vitamins, and fatty acids to remain healthy and maintain moisture. Skin conditions that result in inflammation, itching, and dryness, like eczema and psoriasis can lead to heel fissures. A fungal infection, like athlete’s foot, can have the same result. Those with diabetes frequently have neuropathy which inhibits sweating, thus causing dryness and can cause fissures. Some lifestyle factors that can contribute to heel fissures include wearing open-backed shoes, using harsh soaps on the feet, and not drinking enough water. The fissures can be shallow or deep, bleed, and be painful. Irritants and bacteria can enter the cuts in the skin and become infected. If not treated, fissures can turn into ulcers. It is important to check the feet regularly and keep them clean, dry, and moisturized. Wearing insoles or heel pads in shoes can help with the discomfort of this condition. If you have heel fissures, it is highly suggested that you visit a chiropodist for treatment.

Dry, cracked heels are more than a cosmetic inconvenience. For many people, they are uncomfortable, deep, painful, and may even bleed. If you suffer from cracked heels, please consult with one of the specialists from Thornhill Foot Clinic. Our chiropodists can help you maintain the health of your lower limbs and your mobility. 

Causes

• Prolonged standing

• Wearing open-back shoes

• Wearing shoes that don’t cushion the heels

• Living in a cold or dry climate

• Taking long, hot showers

• Not moisturizing the heels

• Eczema

• Psoriasis

• Palmoplantar keratoderma

• Juvenile plantar dermatosis

Treatments

• Soaking the feet

• Exfoliating with a pumice stone

• Moisturizing the heels

• Wearing closed-back shoes that cushion heels

• Avoiding prolonged standing 

• Taking warm, rather than hot, showers

• Treating underlying skin conditions 

While milder cases of cracked heels can be treated at home, some patients present with deep, painful, bleeding heel fissures that are at risk of becoming infected and may require medical care. Additionally, patients with diabetes or any other conditions that affect the immune system should be monitored by a chiropodist. 

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact our office located in . We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot care needs.