A team approach to foot care

Foot health in older people and the nurses’ role in foot health care-a review of literature

“…Foot structural deformities. The most often reported foot structural deformities are hallux valgus (9–74%) and lesser digital deformities (9–69%) (4, 7, 9, 17, 21–29). Hallux valgus is a condition in which the first toe turns against the other toes.…”

“…The skin problems reported among older people are usually those of dry skin, hyperkeratosis, calluses and corns (9, 18, 32–34). The prevalence of dry skin varies from 14% to 98% according to different studies (4, 5, 21, 22, 27, 30, 33). Fungal infection of the skin (tinea pedis) affects 13–16% of older people (5, 30, 32).…”

“…Fungal infection of the skin (tinea pedis) affects 13–16% of older people (5, 30, 32). Corns affect 9–62% (9, 18, 22, 29, 30, 33, 35) and callus 18–58% of older people (9, 17, 18, 21, 29, 30, 33). Hyperkeratosis, which is a thickening of the plantar skin, occurs among 23–77% of older people (4, 5, 27, 30, 34).…”

“…Hyperkeratosis, which is a thickening of the plantar skin, occurs among 23–77% of older people (4, 5, 27, 30, 34). Swelling of the feet affects 7–26% of older people (7, 10, 18, 21–23, 27, 30, 33, 34). Reports indicate that skin problems are a result of ill‐fitting footwear.…”

“…Nail problems. Nail problems affect 22–94% of older people (5, 6, 21–23, 26, 31, 33, 34). The most commonly reported nail problem is thickened toenails, prevalence of which varies from 28% to 65% (4, 5, 21, 25, 30).…”