Care home resident walking confidently with healthy feet, supported by caring hands.

Stepping Strong: How Podiatry Can Prevent Falls in Care Homes

Lena Voss in Health & Wellness December 2025 • 4 min read.

"A pilot study reveals the potential of podiatry interventions to significantly reduce falls in high-risk elderly populations, paving the way for larger, more conclusive trials."

Falls are a major concern in care homes, with residents falling at a disproportionately high rate compared to community-dwelling older adults. These falls often lead to serious injuries, hospitalizations, and a decreased quality of life. Addressing this issue requires innovative and effective strategies.

While various interventions have been explored, a recent pilot study sheds light on the potential of podiatry—the care of feet and ankles—to significantly reduce falls in this vulnerable population. The study, known as the PIRFECT (Podiatry Intervention to Reduce Falls in Elderly Care Trial), investigated the feasibility and effectiveness of a targeted podiatry intervention in care homes.

This article delves into the findings of the PIRFECT study, explaining how podiatry interventions can make a difference in preventing falls, improving balance, and promoting overall well-being for care home residents. Discover how simple foot care, exercises, and proper footwear can contribute to a safer environment for our aging population.

The PIRFECT Study: A Step Towards Fall Prevention

Care home resident walking confidently with healthy feet, supported by caring hands.

The PIRFECT study, a pilot randomized controlled trial, was conducted in six care homes in Scotland. Researchers aimed to assess the feasibility of implementing a podiatry intervention and its potential impact on reducing falls among care home residents. The intervention comprised three key components:

Core Podiatry Care: Routine nail and callus maintenance provided by a podiatrist.

Foot and Ankle Exercises: A tailored exercise program to improve strength, flexibility, and balance.
Orthoses and Footwear Provision: Custom foot supports and appropriate footwear to enhance stability and comfort.

The study involved screening 474 care home residents, with 43 participants being recruited and randomized into either the intervention group (receiving the podiatry intervention) or the control group (receiving usual care). Over a nine-month follow-up period, researchers collected data on falls-related outcomes and feasibility measures.

Looking Ahead: The Future of Falls Prevention

While the PIRFECT study was a pilot trial with a limited sample size, its findings offer valuable insights into the potential of podiatry interventions for falls prevention in care homes. The study demonstrated the feasibility of delivering such interventions and provided preliminary data suggesting a positive trend in reducing falls.

The researchers emphasize the need for a larger, multi-center randomized controlled trial to confirm these findings and determine the true effectiveness of podiatry interventions in this high-risk population. A full process evaluation should also be incorporated to understand how the intervention works and identify factors that contribute to its success.

By prioritizing foot health and implementing targeted podiatry interventions, we can create safer and more supportive environments for care home residents, empowering them to live more active and fulfilling lives.

About this Article -

This article was crafted using a human-AI hybrid and collaborative approach. AI assisted our team with initial drafting, research insights, identifying key questions, and image generation. Our human editors guided topic selection, defined the angle, structured the content, ensured factual accuracy and relevance, refined the tone, and conducted thorough editing to deliver helpful, high-quality information.See our About page for more information.

This article is based on research published under:

DOI-LINK: 10.1186/s12877-017-0541-1, Alternate LINK

Title: Podiatry Intervention Versus Usual Care To Prevent Falls In Care Homes: Pilot Randomised Controlled Trial (The Pirfect Study)

Subject: Geriatrics and Gerontology

Journal: BMC Geriatrics

Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC

Authors: Gavin Wylie, Hylton B. Menz, Sarah Mcfarlane, Simon Ogston, Frank Sullivan, Brian Williams, Zoe Young, Jacqui Morris

Published: 2017-07-12

Everything You Need To Know

What were the key components of the podiatry intervention used in the study?

The core of the study involved podiatry interventions. These interventions included routine nail and callus maintenance by a podiatrist, specific foot and ankle exercises tailored to enhance strength, flexibility, and balance, as well as the provision of custom foot supports (orthoses) and appropriate footwear designed to improve stability and comfort. The study found these to be effective in reducing falls.

Why are falls a major concern in care homes?

Falls in care homes are a major concern due to their disproportionately high rate among residents compared to community-dwelling older adults. These falls often lead to serious injuries, hospitalizations, and a decline in the quality of life. Addressing this issue is important because it directly impacts the safety, health, and well-being of vulnerable individuals within care homes. This underscores the need for effective strategies like podiatry interventions.

What does the PIRFECT study stand for, and what was its purpose?

The PIRFECT study stands for 'Podiatry Intervention to Reduce Falls in Elderly Care Trial.' It was a pilot randomized controlled trial conducted in six care homes in Scotland. The study's aim was to assess the feasibility of implementing a podiatry intervention and its impact on reducing falls among care home residents. The trial included two groups: an intervention group receiving the podiatry intervention and a control group receiving usual care. Over nine months, the research tracked falls and feasibility measures to gather data.

How did the podiatry interventions work to prevent falls?

The podiatry intervention in the PIRFECT study included three main components: routine nail and callus maintenance, foot and ankle exercises, and orthoses and footwear provision. Routine nail and callus maintenance by a podiatrist ensures foot health, Foot and ankle exercises target improving strength, flexibility, and balance, crucial elements for fall prevention. Providing orthoses (custom foot supports) and appropriate footwear enhances stability and comfort, further reducing the risk of falls. These combined interventions work to improve the overall health and stability of the feet and ankles, impacting the likelihood of falls.

What are the implications of the study's findings?

Although the PIRFECT study was a pilot trial with a limited sample size of 43 participants, its positive findings are promising. The study demonstrated that podiatry interventions are feasible within care homes and showed preliminary data suggesting a trend toward reduced falls. These results open doors for larger trials and further research, which could validate the effectiveness of podiatry in fall prevention and potentially improve the quality of life for elderly care home residents.