From: Leonard A. Levy, DPM, MPH
Podiatric medicine needs to recognize that it has an extremely important role in preventing mortality by mitigating the risk of falling. Interventions that avoid falls that podiatric physicians should provide demonstrate the importance of podiatric public health and extend far beyond the prevention of disorders that directly affect the pedal extremities.
While such intervention includes advising patients to avoid high heel shoes, sandals, and slippers ("slippers make you slip"), other forms of public health education should be included in the podiatric physician's interaction with patients. Patients should be reminded to get rid of small scatter rugs that they have at home, remove clutter from the floor, and eliminate extension cords that stretch across the floor. In addition, recommending daily exercises that strengthen the legs also should be advised. Also, reduce the height of thresholds between rooms. While these interventions may not have the glamour of surgery and other medically complicated procedures, they can/will be life-saving.
Leonard A. Levy, DPM, MPH, Ft. Lauderdale, FL
