Abstract
Introduction
Older people frequently develop impaired balance and functional ability [6]. One main cause of this affection is represented by the foot and ankle problems. This condition affects the quality of the life in elderly. One important role in the disability of this patient is played by the painful foot.
Material and method
In this study we want to demonstrate the relationship between the painful foot, the disability and the quality of life in older people. We selected 30 patients (17 women and 13 men), aged between 65- 80 years old, who suffered from severe foot pain associated with disability for the last 3 months or more. We observed the walking speed, the endurance and we correlated this with the analog visual scale. We modulated this with gender, race, age, IMC, comorbidities, smoking status and the number of other pain locations.
Results
We could observe that the incidence of foot pain is really high, and also is increasing in the last years. This symptom is directly proportional with the disability prevalence and also with the limitation of the activities of the daily living. Hallux deformaties, calluses or corns, edema, hammer toes and pes planus are the main affections that cause this symptom. [1].
Conclusions
The two components of pain, the sensory and the emotional, influence each other and correlated with the reduced functional ability, the increased risks of falls and the reduced physical and mental (depression) aspects influence the quality of life for older persons. These aspects are very important ones especially when the treatment solution is in discus.