Podiatry for preventing falls in older people in the community

Falls affect approximately one-third of people over 65 years of age each year and often result in serious consequences such as hip fractures, traumatic brain injuries, or admission to nursing homes. Falls are the leading cause of injury-related deaths in older people and their management accounts for up to 1.5% of annual healthcare expenditure in the USA. Podiatry is a specialized medical discipline dedicated to treating disorders of the foot and ankle. Its main interventions include treatment of nails, corns and calluses, provision of foot orthoses or insoles, prescription of foot exercises, and footwear modification. Approximately one in four older people suffer from foot pain, and foot problems including pain, hallux valgus, and toe deformities are confirmed risk factors for falls. This update of the 2012 Cochrane review examines the effectiveness and harms of podiatric interventions for preventing falls in older people living in the community.