A foot-care program to facilitate self-care by the elderly: a non-randomized intervention study

• Main Authors: Shizuko Omote, Arisu Watanabe, Tomoko Hiramatsu, Emiko Saito, Masami Yokogawa, Rie Okamoto, Chiaki Sakakibara, Akie Ichimori, Kaoru Kyota, Keiko Tsukasaki
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: BMC 2017-11-01
• Series: BMC Research Notes
• Subjects: Program; Foot care; Self-care; Elderly; Support; Community
• Online Access: http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s13104-017-2898-9

Abstract Objective We aimed to evaluate a foot-care awareness program designed to improve foot morphology, physical functioning, and fall prevention among the community-dwelling elderly. Eleven independent community-dwelling elderly women (aged 61–83 years) were provided with foot-care advice and shown effective foot-care techniques to perform regularly for 6 months, and compared with a control group of 10 elderly women who did not receive any intervention. Measurements of foot form, functional capacity, subjective foot movement, and physical function were taken at baseline and 6-month follow-up. Results At follow-up, improvements were seen in the intervention group in foot morphology, subjective foot movement, foot pressure, and balance. In the intervention group, 90% of women had maintained or improved foot form and none of them had fallen during the post-intervention period, compared to the control group where 30% improved foot form (p = 0.0075) and four (40%) of them had fallen. Therefore, a foot-care program may have the potential to prevent falls and improve mobility among the elderly. Trial Registration UMIN-CTR No. UMIN000029632. Date of Registration: October 19, 2017