Oh My Aging Feet! Growing Older Brings A Whole New Set Of Foot Problems
Your feet are two of the strongest parts of your body. All during your life, each foot supports your entire body weight every time you take a step. As you age, your feet change in ways you may not realize.
Why Are My Shoes So Tight?
The feet don't really grow, but they do become flatter, wider and longer due to ligaments and tendons losing their elasticity. The bones of the feet start to spread apart after age 40, causing you to gain as much as a half shoe size each 10 years. Seniors unaware of this will buy the same size shoes they wore when they were 25, resulting in toe and toenail damage.
Fallen Arches and Rolling Ankles
As the bones in your feet spread apart, your arches lower and the front of your foot becomes wider. This allows your ankle to roll inward, which makes it more susceptible to sprains. Custom arch supports worn inside your shoes give extra support and lessen your chance of injury. Lower arches also contribute to the formation of bunions.
Loss of the Fat Pad
Even if you gain weight with age, the fat pad in your feet gets thinner. One of the first signs of this is feeling like you are walking on marbles. Without that padding, your feet absorb less shock and can become painful and sore. Gel shoe pads that are especially made for aging feet create artificial pads that can help you avoid the pain.
Curling Toes and Black Nails
As your foot flattens, it pulls your big toe up. This is another reason it is especially important to have the right size shoe, because your big toes hitting against the top of a too-small shoes can damage the nail bed and thicken the nail. If your toes start turning black, it's time to get a professional shoe fitting.
Pain and Swelling
Because of all the strain and abuse they take throughout your life, your foot joints are sometimes the first to show signs of arthritis. Osteoporosis can also cause pain your feet and make them prone to stress fractures. Without the support of the of strong ligaments, gravity causes fluid to leak from veins, causing swelling.
To prevent age-related foot problems from worsening, be sure to use proper padding and support in your shoes. Elevate your feet as much as possible to alleviate swelling, and ensure you are wearing the correct size shoes. The most important thing to do is to visit a good podiatrist every year to keep yourself walking straight and tall.
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