Falls in Elderly with Plantar Changes

Aims: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of falls among older people with plantar changes in order to preserve their autonomy and independence.
Study Design: A cross-sectional, descriptive, analytical study was conducted based on a sample of elderly people.
Place and Duration of the Study: Department of Geriatrics and Gerontology at the Federal University of Sao Paulo/UNIFESP - Brazil, between March, 2007 and December, 2008.
Methodology: The study sample consisted of 100 elderly people of both genders, aged ≥ 60 years. After patients were included in the study, are search protocol was applied with the following information: demographic data (age, gender, race, marital status, housing, and education) and anthropometric data (height, weight, and body mass index (BMI)).
Results: The foot types and major injuries were: 83% had valgus feet, 52% had flat feet, 64% had skin lesions, 63% had lesions, and 53% had toenail deformities. Regarding the number of falls in the previous year, 40% did not report having fallen, 44% fell at least once, and 16% fell two or more times. The frequency of falls among older people with plantar changes in the present study (60%) was relatively higher than in other studies. About half of the general population will be affected by a change in the foot, and the incidence and severity increase with age.
Conclusion: Plantar changes were common among the elderly in this study and can directly affect the balance and gait cycle and, therefore, may be a contributing factor to functional disability and falls in the geriatric population.