It’s estimated that about 25% of U.S. adults experience foot pain. When the pain is severe, it can make it difficult to walk around, climb stairs, or stand in place. Is foot pain troubling your dad? He’s not alone.

It’s estimated that the average adult walks about 4,000 steps per day, which is about two miles. The goal should be 10,000. If you think about the fact that you walk two miles or more each day, by the end of one year, the average person has walked 730 miles.

Each of those steps puts pressure on the bones, muscles, tendons, and ligaments in the foot. It’s not surprising that the feet experience pain from time to time. What is important is that foot pain doesn’t limit your dad’s mobility.

Do His Shoes Fit?

If your dad’s shoes are too tight or too loose, they could be causing foot pain. Studies find that as many as seven out of ten people are wearing incorrectly sized shoes. Narrow shoes are the most common problem.

Shoes that pinch or rub can lead to sores that get easily infected. Take him to a footwear expert that offers personalized fittings to ensure your dad is getting shoes that are the correct size and width.

Once you find the right size, your dad may have to stick to specific brands, but even then, some manufacturers use different sizing for different styles. Always try on shoes before purchasing them or use an online retailer that offers no-questions-asked free returns.

Purchase Shock Absorbing Pads

Invest in pads that fit in your dad’s shoes. You want memory foam pads that absorb shock. Each footstep he makes impacts his feet, and it can hurt. Pads will help.

Talk to His Doctor

If pain is limiting your dad’s mobility, talk to his doctor. It’s time to address the benefits of working with a physical therapist to improve strength, balance, and stamina to ensure he’s able to walk around his home, yard, and neighborhood.

Another reason to talk to his doctor is because his foot pain could be tied to diabetes. If your dad is diabetic, nerves can be impacted. He could have gout or another type of arthritis. If he’s not trimming his nails often enough or correctly, his toenails can also cause pain. Routine visits with a podiatrist are important in those situations.

Arrange Help When He Needs It

When your dad’s mobility is impacted by foot pain, ensure he has supportive care at home. Home care aides can clean his home, do the laundry, and help him run errands. Learn more about home care services, including prices, by talking to a specialist.

If you or an aging loved one are considering hiring Home Care in Laurens, SC, contact Heart of the Carolinas Home Care at 864-991-3116.  Providing Home Care Services in Greenville, Simpsonville, Greer, Anderson, Spartanburg, Mauldin, Seneca, Laurens, Charleston, Columbia and the surrounding areas.

Sources:
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0378512216301438
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6064070/

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Edward Harrison

Founder at Heart of the Carolinas

Edward Harrison founded the Heart of the Carolinas Homecare in 2007 when he saw there was a need for caregivers that provide non-medical home care services, at a price that most people could afford. It was standard in the industry to require hourly minimums and it was common to be assigned a caregiver, not matched with one based on your individual personal needs. Edward understood that to make a successful relationship between caregiver and client, skills were not enough, personality and compatibility plays as much a role as do skills.

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