What happens to your feet as they age? (2024)

FAQs

What happens to your feet as they age? ›

Do people's feet change as they get older? They don't change in size, necessarily. But feet may get wider, not longer, as we age. They change in their elasticity the same way other body parts do – tissue becomes less tight, causing the increased width and sagging of the arches.

The most obvious sign your foot is aging is its changing size and shape, says Williams. Over time, the body's ligaments and tendons lose their strength and ability to spring back. In feet, this manifests as a decrease or ''falling'' of the arch, which flattens and lengthens the foot and toes.

Older toes have a propensity toward curling into "claw toes" because of muscle imbalance. And older people — especially older women — are prone to developing bunions, a misalignment of the bones in the big toe that causes the end of the metatarsal bone at the base of the toe to angle out.

Watch out for these aging issues that can occur with your feet! Dry Skin: Dry skin, particularly on the soles of the feet, is a problem that may necessitate the daily use of moisturizer to prevent cracking.

Some of the most common foot problems in older adults include bunions, corns, calluses, hammertoes, ingrown, thickened or discolored nails, diabetic foot conditions, poor circulation, and heel pain. Regular visits to a podiatrist can help you maintain your foot health as you age.

And walking barefoot on carpeted floors can increase circulation and strengthen the muscles in the feet, says Dr.

Moisturise regularly

As you get older, the skin on your feet becomes drier and thinner. Use a thicker moisturiser made especially for feet which you can find at a chemist. Moisturise after a shower, which is the best time as your skin will more easily absorb the cream.

Why do your feet hurt when you get older? ›

By the time you reach your 50th birthday, your feet may have trekked 75,000 miles or more. All that wear and tear or a previous injury can lead to osteoarthritis. It happens when cartilage, a flexible tissue that prevents friction, breaks down. That lets bone rub against bone.

To fix fat pad atrophy, it is recommended to rest your feet, apply ice, take medications, wear orthopedic footwear, tape your heel, use heel cups and shoe inserts, and participate in an exercise program.

Curled, clenched toes or a painful cramped foot are telltale signs of dystonia. Dystonia is a sustained or repetitive muscle twisting, spasm or cramp that can occur at different times of day and in different stages of Parkinson's disease (PD).

Do people's feet change as they get older? They don't change in size, necessarily. But feet may get wider, not longer, as we age. They change in their elasticity the same way other body parts do – tissue becomes less tight, causing the increased width and sagging of the arches.

Lack of B vitamins, particularly B3 or niacin, and B7 orbiotin, can lead to dry, flaky skin, contributing to heel fissures. To combat cracked heels, it is beneficial to eat a well-balanced diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, which are all abundant in vitamins and nutrients.

Spastic equinovarus foot deformity is a common result of a brain injury or stroke. It causes the foot to turn inward and to the side. Equinovarus foot deformity is not usually painful or symptomatic, but it makes it more difficult for a patient to walk and in some cases can promote arthritis over time.

One of the primary drivers of changing foot shapes as you get older is simple wear-and-tear. Each of your feet is made up of two dozen or so bones that are supported by various ligaments, tendons, and muscles. When you were younger, these soft tissues were highly elastic, stretching and bouncing back easily with use.

Like everything else on your body, it is normal for your feet to not be identical. Typically the left foot is larger than the right. Why? Because most people are right side dominant and therefore, it's easier for them to keep their balance when they step forward with their left foot.

If good routine foot care is not practised, feet can start to show signs of ageing at any age, but generally it is most common from your fifties onwards. General signs of ageing feet include more regular aches and pains, developing bunions, signs of clawing of the toes along with general circulatory problems.