BMC Research Notes (Nov 2017)

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

  • Shizuko Omote,
  • Arisu Watanabe,
  • Tomoko Hiramatsu,
  • Emiko Saito,
  • Masami Yokogawa,
  • Rie Okamoto,
  • Chiaki Sakakibara,
  • Akie Ichimori,
  • Kaoru Kyota,
  • Keiko Tsukasaki

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s13104-017-2898-9
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 10, no. 1
pp. 1 – 6

Abstract

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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

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