Everybody knows staying active is critical to health, and as we age, this becomes more challenging when we are afflicted with lower limb and foot conditions. The simple task of walking can cause pain and discomfort discouraging movement and without regular movement, our core muscle strength starts to wither along with our independence.
We never really give much thought to our feet until they start to hurt. We just expect they will work as they have always done, but the truth is, once the foot or lower leg starts to ache and develop problems, they don’t simply go away, so neglecting them, often makes matters worse. Gone are the days of our youth where rest can cure just about anything, as we age, rest often just makes us more vulnerable. Our body’s ability to repair takes longer, our circulation is slower, our ligaments and muscles are weaker, our joints have started to wear out, combine this with weight gain, high blood pressure or diabetes and its no wonder we can’t bounce back like we used to!
Don’t despair, it doesn’t mean we can’t live active happy lives as we age, but it does mean we have to be smarter with our strategy and that is, get in early and stay on top of things with intermittent checkups.
Our Podiatrist Dr Ella Wright runs a thorough assessment specific to ageing feet. She is able to detect biomechanical dysfunctions early before they start damaging the tissues and joints of the lower limb and feet. She prescribes special orthotics that are softer and more comfortable (should you need them) combined with a progressive exercise program to help build back your strength. She considers how other medical conditions impact the recovery of your feet and what adjustments she needs to make, to get the best results for you as quick as possible. Treating young feet is not the same as treating ageing feet and Dr Ella knows this very well having worked with the ageing population for many years.
Common conditions Dr Ella seeing in our growing ageing population include:
- Development of Plantar Fascitis & Heel Pain from progressive flat foot deformities.
- Achilles Tendon Injuries
- Arthritis
- Diabetic foot ulcers
- Skin Conditions
- Nail Fungal Infections
- Toenail Conditions
- Hallux Valgus
- Foot, ankle, knee, hip and back painÂ