Foot Pain, Plantar Pressures, and Falls in Older People: A Prospective Study

OBJECTIVES: To determine whether foot pain and plantar pressure are associated with falls in community‐dwelling older adults. DESIGN: Community‐based cohort study with 12‐month prospective falls follow‐up. SETTING: Sydney and Illawarra statistical regions of New South Wales, Australia. PARTICIPANTS: Randomly recruited, community‐dwelling adults (158 men and 154 women) aged 60 and older. MEASUREMENTS: Manchester Foot Pain and Disability Index to establish baseline foot pain and dynamic plantar pressures. Participants were then classified as fallers (n=107) or nonfallers (n=196) based on their falls incidence over the following 12 months. RESULTS: Fallers had a significantly higher prevalence of foot pain than nonfallers (57.9% vs 42.1%; chi‐square=4.0; P=.04). Fallers also generated a significantly higher peak pressure and pressure‐time integral under the foot than non‐fallers. In addition, individuals with foot pain had a significantly higher peak pressure and pressure‐time integral under the foot than those without foot pain. CONCLUSION: High plantar pressures generated during gait may contribute to foot pain and risk of falls. Providing interventions to older people with foot pain and high plantar pressures may play a role in reducing their falls risk.