Aging Feet

A common expression that we hear as podiatrists is - "Don't get old."

Our skin, joints, muscles & tendons all deteriorate as we age, and our feet are definitely not immune to these changes.

Skin changes can include:

o   A loss in moisture content (dryness)

o   Reduced resilience/flexibility

o   Degeneration and displacement of our fat pad (less cushioning)

The muscles and ligaments in our feet can become weaker with less activity, making it harder for them to hold our 26 bones together as they used to. For these reasons, it becomes easier for calluses and corns to develop on our feet as we age. This can cause foot shape - and consequently shoe size  - to change, being either longer and/or wider.

By wearing incorrect footwear, and thus exposing our feet to the rigours of daily life, we can become prone to injuries, pain and discomfort. For instance, it is better to wear thick, cushioned, well suited and properly fitted footwear as we age.

Another common concern is thickened toenails.  Podiatrist often have to reshape and thin down nails in older patients in order to prevent painful ingrown toenails from arising.

As we age, it becomes more difficult to care for our feet properly, or reach down to our toes. This is where podiatrists can be most useful.

It is not uncommon for podiatrists to see some patients every 6 - 8 weeks for the general maintenance and care of their skin and nails.