Keeping our senior patients mobile and pain free is our goal. However, it is more of a challenge for some of our senior patients who have been afflicted by hereditary foot conditions. Fortunately, there are many non-invasive options to keep them active.
Here are a few conditions that our senior patients experience:
Midfoot Arthritis
Arthritis of the midfoot is quite common amongst people over 65 years of age. Swelling and hypertrophy of the bones is common. Some seniors will complain of irritation from certain shoes. Since there isn’t a cure, our focus is on keeping the inflammation down. A good pair of custom foot orthotics is usually prescribed as well as appropriate shoe gear.
Hammertoes
When the toes curl, pain can occur on the top or tips of them. Many senior patients have a problem with the tips of the toes. Calluses and ulcers can develop, which are quite painful. Although we’ll try some padding, one of the best solutions is a Percutaneous Tenotomy to straighten the toe. This simple technique has improved the mobility of many patients.
Medial Ankle Pain
Swelling and pain of the medial ankle without an injury is often a common form of tendinitis. Women are more affected than men. The Posterior Tibial Tendon can weaken and become inflamed. Some patients will develop an arch that is much flatter on the affected side. A specific AFO brace and ultimately custom foot orthotics can keep these patients mobile.
We welcome the opportunity to help keep our seniors mobile. Doing so with easy, non-invasive methods is always our goal. If you feel someone’s mobility is compromised by a foot condition, we’re here to help. As always, we have same day appointments for anyone you feel needs immediate attention. You can contact us online or call our office directly at 973.777.5771. We are conveniently located in our Clifton, NJ and we look forward to serving you.
