Foot pain is common in older adults with a meta-analysis of 31 studies with 75,500 participants the prevalence of foot pain was 24% in adults age 45 years or older.
Older adults are more likely to have conditions associated with foot pathology such as diabetes, peripheral arterial disease and neuropathy.
A relationship exist between foot disorders and falls and gait disorders.
Older adults who have falls or more likely to experience foot pain and bony abnormalities.
Patients with foot problems are more likely to have impaired functional status and mobility
Heel spurs can be caused by wearing the wrong shoes or from an abnormal walk or posture, or even from activities like running.
People with flat feet or high arches are more likely to have painful heel spurs.
To treat heel spurs
Wearing a cutout heel pad.
Using an orthotic.
Well fitting shoes well with shock-absorbing soles.
Physical therapy.
Heel fracture is usually from a high-impact injury such as from a fall or car accident.
Heel fracture may manifest as heel pain, bruising, swelling, or trouble walking.
Metatarsalgia, pain and inflammation in the ball of the foot: Ill-fitting shoes are the usual cause.
Morton’s neuroma causes a thickening of the tissue around the nerves between the bases of the toes, usually between the third and fourth toes.
With Morton’s neuroma pain or numbness over the ball of your foot may be experienced.
Women have Morton’s neuroma more often, a result of wearing high heels or tight shoes.
Sesamoiditis occurs when the sesamoid tendons of the big toen become injured and inflamed.
Sesamoiditis is a form of tendinitis, common with runners and ballet dancers.
Arch pain is most commonly caused by plantar fasciitis.
Plantar fasciitis can affect the heel, arch, or both.
For persistent plantar fasciitis, an injection with a mixture of a steroid and local anesthetic can be helpful management.
Fallen arches, or flat feet, causes foot pain and other problems.
Flat feet can be treated with shoe inserts, shoe adjustments, rest, ice, using a walking cane or brace, or physical therapy.
Toe pain can be caused by gout.
A bunion refers to a bony bulge along the edge of the foot, next to the base of the big toe.
Bunions are associated with misalignment of the first toe joint.
While anyone can manifest a bunion, they are especially likely, if they wear ill-fitting or uncomfortable shoes.
It increases as people age.
Bunions are often associated with hammertoes.
A hammertoe deformity is when your second, third, or fourth toe bends at the middle joint, creating a hammer-like appearance.
A hammertoe deformity can arise from a muscle imbalance, or by wearing ill-fitting shoes.
Claw toe occurs when the toe points down or up and is unable to be straightened.
Claw toe is often the result of nerve damage from diseases like diabetes or alcoholism, which weakens the muscles in your foot.
An ingrown toenail is occurs when skin on one or both sides of a toenail grow over the nail.
An ingrown toenail can be painful and may lead to infections.
Turf toe refers to pain at the base of the big toe, caused by overuse strain.
It is an overuse injury, usually caused by strain.
Turf toe may also be related to sesamoiditis or a sesamoid fracture.
A toe sprain occurs when jamming or stubbing the toe, damaging the tendon or soft tissues of the toe.
Toe fractures, can occur in any of the bones of the toes.
Minor fractures may only require rest, ice, and pain relievers, while serious fractures may need surgery.
Hallux rigidus refers to a stiff big toe, type of arthritis at the base of the big toe.
Corns refer to thick buildups of tough skin on a point of irritation or pressure on the foot or toe.
Calluses are wider areas of tough skin, that buildup on the toes or feet.
Corns and calluses results from irritation or pressure, and are generally caused by poor-fitting footwear.
A sesamoid fracture embedded in tendons attached to the big toe causes pain in and around it.
The fifth metatarsal bone, is a commonly broken bone in the foot, and is associated with pain, swelling, and bruising along the outer foot edge after an injury.
Neuropathy associated pain can be burning, stinging, or feel like electricity.
Tendinitis is inflammation and irritation of tendons can cause foot pain in many different locations.