Disabling Foot Pain
A study published in the American Journal of Epidemiology states that one in seven older women is disabled with foot pain. Previous studies have suggested that more older women than older men are likely to have arthritis and other conditions responsible for foot in. In a group of 1,000 women age 65 and older, approximately 14 percent had chronic or severe pain of at least on months duration in the previous year, and the pain rated a minimum of 7 on a severity scale from 0 to 10. These women had more difficulty standing, walking, and performing daily tasks and routine personal care than women with moderate or no foot pain.
An accurate diagnosis is the first step toward treating and foot problem. And because each foot problem is different from anyone else’s, your podiatrist needs to evaluate your problem individually. This requires a history, physical exam, and in some cases, x-rays and laboratory tests. Whatever is causing your foot pain, whether it’s wear and tear, disease or injury, a hereditary condition, or any number of ills that can plague your feet you can count on us!
P.S. Losing weight can sometimes help; obese women were more likely to have disabling foot pain that women of an ideal BMI.
