THE PERFECT BALANCE — BODY & SOLE
Elderly people are often affected by psychosocial
and economic difficulties, which will prevent
them from obtaining the appropriate footwear.
They tend to keep to themselves more when
they fall ill, causing them to become lonely.
That loneliness can cause them to feel a lack
of purpose, and that in turn starts to affect their
quality of life. This causes emotional distress
and some may start to lose interest in dressing
and bathing properly, and they become less selfsufficient.
When visual and/or hearing difficulties cause
a patient to misunderstand instructions on how
they should use, place, or clean the orthotic,
incorrect placement or even placement on the
wrong feet may result. Diabetes, poor circulation
or vascular insufficiency can often cause the
patient to have such decreased skin sensation
that they feel almost nothing on their feet,
especially the bottom of their feet. This can
allow the tiniest foreign body or area in the
shoe to rub incorrectly on the foot. This could
possibly lead to an open sore and more than
likely an infection. Because of this, custom shoes
and especially orthotics play a very important
role for patients in this situation.
Each patient presents with his or her own foot
issues that range from comorbidities, to overall
fitness status, to environment, and many other
circumstances. Foot specialists recommend
many different forms of treatment depending on
the patient's specific health needs. Besides the
correct shoes and foot orthotics, they may also
recommend other types of treatment, or possibly
even several different forms of therapy. It is
important to remember that the type of footwear
and foot orthotics that may help one patient or
one condition, such as a balance problem, might
"It is important to remember that the type of footwear and foot
orthotics that may help one pa