Balance Problems & Falling in Seniors — How Your Feet May Be the Cause

Falls Are the #1 Senior Injury — and Feet Are Often the Culprit

Falls are the leading cause of injury-related death in adults over 65, frequently resulting in hip fractures, head injuries, and devastating loss of independence. Foot-related problems are among the most common preventable causes of falls. At Balance Foot & Ankle, fall prevention through foot health is one of our most important services for Michigan seniors.

How Foot Problems Cause Falls

Peripheral neuropathy reduces sole sensation — depriving the nervous system of ground-feel information essential for balance. Toe deformities (bunions, hammertoes) change the foot’s base of support. Painful foot conditions cause compensatory gait changes that increase fall risk. Poorly fitting shoes dramatically increase stumbling. Thick or painful toenails change how the foot contacts the ground during walking.

Our Fall Prevention Approach

Neuropathy assessment and management, custom orthotics to improve stability and proprioceptive feedback, footwear evaluation (proper fit, sole grip, heel height), nail care to ensure proper toe-ground contact during walking, treatment of painful conditions altering gait, and coordination with physical therapists for balance training when indicated.

Call (810) 206-1402 for a fall prevention foot assessment. Home visits available for seniors who can’t travel to our offices.

Balance Problems and Falling in Michigan Seniors: The Foot and Ankle Contribution to Fall Risk

Falls are the leading cause of injury death in adults over 65 in Michigan, and the foot and ankle system contributes to fall risk through multiple mechanisms that are directly addressable by podiatric intervention. Peripheral neuropathy reduces proprioceptive feedback from the foot — the sense of position and ground surface that the brain uses to maintain balance in real time. Painful foot conditions (plantar fasciitis, metatarsalgia, bunion pain) cause patients to modify their gait unconsciously — shifting weight to avoid pain and disrupting the normal balance mechanisms. Ankle instability from previous ankle sprains or ligament laxity reduces the ankle’s ability to make the rapid corrective responses needed to prevent falls. Inappropriate footwear — shoes that are too large, slippers without heel cups, smooth-soled shoes on wet floors — is among the most modifiable fall risk factors at the foot level.

At Balance Foot & Ankle, we provide fall risk foot assessments for Michigan seniors in coordination with their primary care teams, physical therapists, and geriatric care managers. Our fall risk foot evaluation identifies: peripheral neuropathy with loss of protective sensation using monofilament and vibratory testing; ankle instability using clinical ligament stability testing; inappropriate footwear and footwear modification recommendations; and painful foot conditions whose treatment would directly improve gait mechanics and reduce compensatory fall risk behaviors. Michigan seniors who have fallen in the past year, who feel unsteady on their feet, or whose family members have noticed gait changes should call Balance Foot & Ankle at (810) 206-1402 for a fall risk foot evaluation at our Howell or Bloomfield Hills office.

Michigan patients with systemic conditions affecting their feet deserve coordinated care that addresses both the underlying disease and its foot manifestations. Balance Foot & Ankle works collaboratively with endocrinologists, cardiologists, rheumatologists, neurologists, and primary care physicians throughout Livingston and Oakland counties to provide podiatric care that integrates with the patient’s overall treatment plan. When a systemic disease is driving foot complications, managing the foot without optimizing the underlying disease — and managing the underlying disease without addressing the foot complications it produces — produces inferior outcomes. Call us at (810) 206-1402 to schedule a comprehensive evaluation at our Howell or Bloomfield Hills office, and bring your list of current physicians so we can coordinate your care appropriately.

Related Treatment Guides

• Bunion Treatment
• Diabetic Foot Care & Neuropathy
• Plantar Fasciitis & Heel Pain Treatment
• Custom 3D Orthotics

Same-week appointments are available at our Howell office at 4330 E Grand River and our Bloomfield Hills office at 43494 Woodward Ave #208 for Michigan patients with foot conditions related to systemic health issues. Our clinical team is experienced working alongside specialists in endocrinology, cardiology, rheumatology, and neurology to provide podiatric care that integrates with the patient’s complete treatment plan. Call Balance Foot & Ankle at (810) 206-1402 to schedule your evaluation today.

Medical References & Sources

• American Podiatric Medical Association — Patient Education
• American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society — Foot Conditions

Your Board-Certified Podiatrists

Dr. Tom Biernacki, DPM

Board-Certified · FACFAS

Dr. Carl Jay, DPM

Board-Certified Podiatrist

Dr. Daria Gutkin, DPM

Podiatrist

Dr. Tom Biernacki, DPM

Dr. Tom Biernacki, DPM is a double board-certified podiatrist and foot & ankle surgeon at Balance Foot & Ankle Specialists in Southeast Michigan. With over a decade of clinical experience, he specializes in heel pain, bunions, diabetic foot care, sports injuries, and minimally invasive surgery. Dr. Biernacki is a member of the APMA and ACFAS, and his patient education content on MichiganFootDoctors.com and YouTube has reached over one million views.