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Podiatry
Foot health mirrors general health. Conditions such as arthritis, diabetes, nerve, and circulatory disorders can show their initial symptoms in the feet. HealthSYNC podiatric physicians help our aging population by maintaining continued and proper foot health.
Indicators for podiatry care
- Senior citizens
- People with diabetes
- Anyone with poor circulation
- Anyone who takes medications to thin the blood
- Dry skin
- Brittle or thick nails
- Burning and tingling sensations
- Feelings of cold
- Numbness
- Discoloration
- Diabetes
- High blood pressure
Foot health and quality of life
 To maintain and preserve quality of life one must be able to move about to get from point to point. Mobility is a vital ingredient to independence and a higher quality of life. Foot problems can make it difficult or next to impossible for seniors to perform activities of daily living and social activities.
According to the U.S National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS), foot pain can cause activity limitation in the elderly. Foot problems can also lead to knee, hip, and lower back pain that can lead to decreased mobility and a lower quality of life.
In addition, studies show that care for a bedridden patient costs much more than care for an ambulatory patient.
Foot health and quality of care
With advancing years, the skin and nails of the feet frequently become dry and brittle, and numbness and discoloration often are present. Our podiatric physicians, or doctors of podiatric medicine (DPMs), are often the first to see signs of such systemic conditions as diabetes, arthritis, and circulatory disease in the foot. Ignoring these symptoms and failing to provide consistent professional medical care when they appear can have serious consequences for patients, especially the elderly.
Providing consistent foot health care has many benefits, including:
- Reduced pain
- Increased discomfort
- Decreased chance of additional medical problems and hospitalization because of infection
© 2009 American Podiatric Medical Association, Inc. All rights reserved. |
