Falls Awareness Week (16th - 20th September) is an annual campaign which aims to educate older adults about falls and how to prevent them. Our useful guide highlights the importance of prevention from a footwear and foot care point of view. We continually remain aware of the possibility of falls when we create our extra wide fit footwear, encompassing a diverse range of factors designed to mitigate risks. Read on to discover some of our special features and advice.
Sole Units
The tread design on our wide fit footwear is checked and tested during fit and lab tests to ensure that they provide suitable grip on all walking surfaces but not too much grip that can cause the shoe to “stick” and potentially cause a fall. We have a range of soles in our collection including:
- Wide sole treads, especially in the heel area, to provide a stable walking/standing platform
- A range of our styles are made with a flexible rubber sole which is suitable to wear indoors and out (it’s recommended to wear well-fitting, slip-resistant slippers or house shoes indoors rather than walking barefoot or in socks or tights)
- Tango and Jive, our Cushion Active™ styles include lightweight, triple density soles that moves with your foot for maximum comfort
- Our Sport Active™ collection of extra wide trainers, all feature a double density sole which is designed to give essential lateral support without compromising on flexibility
- The lightweight sole on our CosyTex™ styles is shock-absorbing and cleated for good grip
- The High-Performance CosyTex™ styles feature a sole with a tread design that works well in mud, ice and snow and is stable on uneven terrain
For more information about specific soles, we recommend looking at the product descriptions available on our website and catalogue.
Uppers & Fastenings
As well as the sole units, the uppers of your footwear are equally important to helping prevent falls and injuries. Our extra wide fitting footwear includes a number of features to ensure feet are supported and comfortable:
- Hand-crafted leathers are soft and supple, so they mould to the individual foot shape for a made-to-measure fit
- Cushioned collars and padded tongues (where appropriate) offer additional comfort in areas which could cause irritation
- Flexible touch-fastening straps can be adjusted to accommodate swelling, with many styles having extension straps available to lengthen straps for more severe swelling or bandaging
- Adjustable laces can be tightened/loosened to accommodate swelling that may change throughout the day, for a secure and reliable fit
- Soft linings are seam-free (where possible) to ensure most styles are diabetic-friendly
- Our shoes use quality toe puffs and heel counters which help to support the foot within the shoe
Foot Health
It is also important to take care of your feet, as foot conditions such as bunions, claw toes, ingrown toenails and general foot pain can all cause problems. It is advised that you should check your feet regularly and speak to a GP or podiatrist if you have any reduction in foot sensation or develop any foot pain.
A simple foot care routine can help reduce the risk of falls by preventing some of the conditions that cause pain and problems:
- Wash and dry your feet daily to prevent infection
- Apply moisturiser to keep skin healthy
- Maintain and cut toenails regularly
- Regular podiatry appointments for the management of foot problems
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