This Article Full Text (PDF) References Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Citing Articles via Scopus Google Scholar Articles by Burns, J. Articles by Martin, B. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Burns, J. Articles by Martin, B. Social Bookmarking                   What's this?

The effects of chiropody on the gait speed of a frail elderly population

Department of Geriatric Medicine, Lightburn Hospital, Glasgow

J. Black

Department of Geriatric Medicine, Lightburn Hospital, Glasgow

BJ Martin

Department of Geriatric Medicine, Lightburn Hospital, Glasgow

There is a high incidence of foot deformities in the elderly population accompanied by difficulties in self-care. Chiropody is widely recommended but there have been no studies looking at its effects on mobility in the elderly. This study examined 55 elderly patients attending the Glasgow Eastern District Geriatric Services. Gait speed was measured before and after chiropody to see if there was any beneficial effect on mobility. There was no significant difference in gait speed before and after chiropody (medians 0.21 m/s versus 0.34m/s; 95% confidence interval for the difference between the medians, -0.17-0.08m/s). The subjective impression of the patients is that 60% thought that their foot condition had affected mobility and that their walking had been improved by chiropody. Although there has been no objective change in gait speed, this does not preclude other changes in mobility level which may be identified in further studies.

Clinical Rehabilitation, Vol. 6, No. 2, 141-143 (1992)
DOI: 10.1177/026921559200600208


CiteULike    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    What's this?

This article has been cited by other articles:

				B. Martin and M. Cameron Evaluation of walking speed and functional ambulation categories in geriatric day hospital patients Clinical Rehabilitation, February 1, 1996; 10(1): 44 - 46. [Abstract] [PDF]