At Concord Podiatry, we know that maintaining your independence as you age starts from the ground up. Led by board-certified podiatrist Dr. David E Biss, DPM, our team provides comprehensive foot care to seniors throughout Concord, New Hampshire, and Plymouth, New Hampshire.
Foot pain, toe weakness, nerve changes, and footwear problems can all affect balance, so caring for your feet may be an important part of reducing fall risk.
When foot pain comes from conditions such as arthritis, plantar fasciitis, bunions, or diabetic foot complications, your body naturally changes how you walk to avoid the discomfort. This shift in your gait means it's much harder to stay steady on your feet.
Your feet help you sense the ground, shift your weight, and adjust to uneven surfaces. When foot pain, weakness, deformity, or nerve changes interfere with those functions, staying steady can become harder.
A 2026 systematic review published in Health Science Reports found that foot pain, impaired sensory function, and intrinsic foot muscle weakness were associated with increased fall risk in older adults. In the review, great-toe weakness was associated with higher fall risk, and lesser-toe weakness showed an even stronger association.
Structural issues such as bunions can also affect comfort, shoe fit, and the way weight moves through the foot. A 2026 nationwide database study published in Gerontology found that, among older adults with hallux valgus, those who had bunion surgery had lower long-term fall risk than those treated without surgery. The authors described reduced injurious falls as a potential added benefit among older adults for whom surgery was already indicated.
Walking barefoot or in unstructured slippers indoors is a major hazard because it deprives aging feet of the mechanical support, shock absorption, and traction needed to maintain balance on hard surfaces.
Many seniors believe that going barefoot at home is safe, but research tells a different story. In the MOBILIZE Boston study, 51.9% of in-home falls occurred while older adults were barefoot, wearing socks without shoes, or wearing slippers. Among people who fell at home, those who were shoeless or wearing slippers had higher odds of serious injury than those wearing other shoes.
As we age, the protective fat pads on the soles of our feet naturally thin out, and conditions like diabetic neuropathy (nerve damage) can dull our sensory feedback. Wearing supportive, slip-resistant shoes indoors provides the stability your body needs to prevent sudden slips.
Podiatric care can help identify and treat foot problems that may contribute to unsteady walking. Depending on your needs, that may include evaluating your gait, treating painful conditions, recommending footwear changes, discussing orthotics, or suggesting exercises to improve foot and ankle strength.
Some studies suggest that multifaceted podiatry interventions may reduce fall rates in older adults with foot pain, especially when care includes footwear guidance, orthotics, strengthening exercises, and routine podiatry support.
At Concord Podiatry, Dr. Biss evaluates your gait and designs personalized treatment plans. Whether you need custom orthotics to redistribute pressure, targeted exercises to strengthen your intrinsic foot muscles, or advice on choosing safer shoes with good fit, traction, low heels, and stable support, we're here to support your journey toward safer mobility.
Don't let foot pain or instability take away your independence. may help you feel steadier and more confident as you move through daily life. If foot pain, numbness, bunions, or shoe problems are affecting your balance, schedule a visit with Dr. Biss today.
You can also contact our team at our Concord or Plymouth offices to learn more about how we can help you stay steady on your feet.
