Changes in Feet

It is common for feet to change as you age. Some normal changes are listed below:

• Feet can spread out and widen causing your shoe size to change. Be sure to try on shoes before purchasing “your size” to make sure they fit properly.
• The bottoms of feet can lose the fatty pads that provide cushioning to the feet. The heel pad is most typically affected.
• Skin tends to thin out and lose elasticity. This makes injuries and infections easier to come by.
• Ligaments and tendons lose their stretch-ability. 
• Nails can thicken and get brittle.

Other medical conditions that can be associated with aging, such as arthritis and poor circulation, can increase the risk of foot problems. Seeing a foot specialist regularly will help to monitor changes in the foot, which will help to take care of problems early on.

Image by Ale Art. Feet. (2013). Flickr.