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Foot Pain, Plantar Pressures, and Falls in Older People: A Prospective Study
Author(s) -
Mickle Karen J.,
Munro Bridget J.,
Lord Stephen R.,
Menz Hylton B.,
Steele Julie R.
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
journal of the american geriatrics society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.992
H-Index - 232
eISSN - 1532-5415
pISSN - 0002-8614
DOI - 10.1111/j.1532-5415.2010.03061.x
Subject(s) - medicine , foot (prosody) , physical therapy , prospective cohort study , physical medicine and rehabilitation , gait , cohort , psychological intervention , cohort study , surgery , philosophy , linguistics , psychiatry
OBJECTIVES: To determine whether foot pain and plantar pressure are associated with falls in community‐dwelling older adults. DESIGN: Community‐based cohort study with 12‐month prospective falls follow‐up. SETTING: Sydney and Illawarra statistical regions of New South Wales, Australia. PARTICIPANTS: Randomly recruited, community‐dwelling adults (158 men and 154 women) aged 60 and older. MEASUREMENTS: Manchester Foot Pain and Disability Index to establish baseline foot pain and dynamic plantar pressures. Participants were then classified as fallers (n=107) or nonfallers (n=196) based on their falls incidence over the following 12 months. RESULTS: Fallers had a significantly higher prevalence of foot pain than nonfallers (57.9% vs 42.1%; chi‐square=4.0; P =.04). Fallers also generated a significantly higher peak pressure and pressure‐time integral under the foot than non‐fallers. In addition, individuals with foot pain had a significantly higher peak pressure and pressure‐time integral under the foot than those without foot pain. CONCLUSION: High plantar pressures generated during gait may contribute to foot pain and risk of falls. Providing interventions to older people with foot pain and high plantar pressures may play a role in reducing their falls risk.