Seniors’ Week 2023: How Our Bodies Change As We Age

Osteoarthritis

What is it?

• Often referred to as "wear and tear" arthritis as the cartilage that cushions our joints naturally wears down
• People will feel pain, stiffness and reduced motion in their joint
• In our feet, it typically occurs in our big toe joint that we use to push off when we walk

How can we manage it?

• Intrinsic foot muscle exercises are a great way to increase the strength around the joint to support it.
• Orthotics and footwear modifications are an important way to decrease the load on the joint itself and reduce the "wear and tear" occurring.
• In advanced cases, surgery is also an option
• It is important to see your podiatrist to find the cause of your osteoarthritis rather than treating the symptoms alone

Balance and Coordination Changes

Why does it happen?

• Decreasing muscle strength makes it more difficult to maintain balance and stability
• Reduced sensation in our feet can occur as we age, making it harder to feel the ground and make the necessary adjustments for balance
• Vision changes as we age can also make it more difficult to perceive the ground in front of you which can reduce your coordination

How can we manage it?

• Neurovascular examination to assess for any reduced sensations in your that indicate a loss of balance
• Muscle function testing to assess any weaknesses you may have that we can provide a personalised exercise program for
• Footwear evaluation to ensure you are wearing shoes that provide stability and minimise risks
• Balance and core strengthening exercises to improve your strength and balance ability.

Thicker Nails

• Toenails often become thicker and harder as we age due to an accumulation of keratin or nail trauma
• Thicker toenails can be more challenging to trim and can be more susceptible to fungal infections
• Thicker nails can also increase pressure on the toe when walking
• Seeing a podiatrist with purpose built equipment to manage and reduce the thickness of the nails is a great to keep your nails pain and infection free

Reduced Skin Moisture

• Urea is an important component of your skin's natural moisturising factor which is essential for maintaining a health and hydrated skin barrier
• As we age, our skin's ability to produce urea reduces so it is important to use a moisturising cream that contains urea to keep your skin hydrated
• If your skin has low levels of urea, it will result in hard skin such as calluses and corns developing quicker
• Seeing a podiatrist is recommended to get the hard skin reduced and to find the correct regime of routine maintenence and moisturising to keep your feet in tip top shape!

Reduced Circulation

• Aging often leads to a natural decline in overall circulation throughout the body
• As your feet are the furthest part of you from your heart, the feet's blood supply is always affected first
• This can potentially result in slower healing of wounds and injuries, and make your feet more susceptible to temperature changes
• Our podiatrists can conduct thorough vascular assessments to assess the quality of your blood flow to your feet to determine if any further assessments are required