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Beware of old slippers
Flip flopping around the house and garden in your much-loved pair of worn slippers is one of the biggest falls hazards in your home. You can lose your balance, or trip because you aren't lifting your feet when you walk.
It is estimated that one in three Australian seniors, |
who live in their own homes, will fall each year. |
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St Vincent's Hospital provides a weekly outpatient falls and balance clinic. With little research done on the relationship between footwear, foot pain and falls risk, two podiatrists Julia Firth and Stephen Tucker at St Vincent's Hospital conducted their own small study involving 50 patients.
Over a three-month period, patients attending the falls and balance clinic were assessed regarding a range of footwear variables including type of footwear worn at consultation, type of footwear worn at home, upper materials, sole type and materials, fastening mechanism, condition of shoes, fit of shoes, period of wear.
The results were analysed and indicated that a large percentage of patients are increasing their falls risk by wearing an inappropriate type of shoe or were wearing a shoe that did not fit or was worn out.
Footwear is an easily modifiable factor to address and people at risk of falling, need to be aware of how inappropriate footwear can influence falls risk.
Maybe it's time, to say goodbye to your flip-flop slippers, and invest in a pair of sensible, hard soled shoes for around the home. |
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Don't fall for slippers
If you wear loose slippers because of foot pain caused by bunions, Planter's warts, corns, or need special inserts to help your balance, it is a good idea to see a podiatrist - it may save you tripping over and ending up in hospital. |
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