Knowledgeable Aging

Resources for the Aging Population

Common Foot Problems

Common foot problems can affect any of the 52 bones, 33 joints, and more than 100 muscles, tendons and ligaments of your feet.

The average person walks about 110,000 miles in their lifetime and that is equivalent to walking three times around the earth. So if you are in your 70’s or older, you have been around!

Foot health is critical to maintaining your general health, including the effects of arthritis, circulation and your nervous system, so taking care of your feet is critical to preventing the effects of aging and to prevent falling.

With aging people tend to develop foot problems including bunions, hammer toes, heel pain, nerve entrapments, corns, calluses, bacterial, fungal and viral infections to their feet. We will talk about these problems and offer tips on how to deal with each of them.

Diabetes and pre-diabetes can affect the feet and legs with devastating consequences, and that is a condition that affects many people in their maturity. So we will take some time to discuss that condition.

Your feet must last a lifetime so I will present information that you can use immediately to protect your foot health.

Listen to the Podcast

  • 1:55 – Tidbits on the foot
  • 4:59 – Nails – Onychomycosis
  • 6:34 – Nails – Paronychia
  • 7:36 – Skin infections (bacterial, fungal, viral)
  • 11:04 – Podiatric biomechanics
  • 13:06 – Biomechanical orthotics
  • 14:14 – Hallux abducto valgus (bunion) and hallux rigidus
  • 16:31 – Digital deformities
  • 18:11 – Heel pain
  • 20:30 – Keratosis – Corns and Callous
  • 22:57 – Neuroma
  • 24:17 – Diabetes
  • 29:05 – Questions
Dr. Mark Hinkes

Dr. Mark Hinkes is a Doctor of Podiatric Medicine who recently retired from clinical care after 40 years’ service. 20 years in private practice in Miami, FL and 20 years at the Veterans Affairs Medical Centers. In Nashville, Tennessee he served as the Chief of Podiatry Services and Director of Podiatric Medical Education. He has been the Chairman of the Preservation Amputation Care and Treatment (PACT) Program for over a decade.

Dr. Hinkes is certified by the American Board of Foot and Ankle Surgery and the American Professional Wound Care Association. He is a diplomat of the American College of Foot & Ankle Surgeons. His professional memberships include the American Podiatric Medical Association, American Podiatric Writers Association, American Professional Wound Care Association and Association for the Advancement of Wound Care. He is a frequent blog contributor to several wound care blogs including Podiatry Today Magazine and his personal LinkedIn site. He is President and CMO of ePrevenir, a company who offers a cloud-based tool for Primary Care Providers to manage the four comorbidities of diabetes.

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