Foot pain and discomfort aren’t a natural part of growing older or something to just put up with. Much can be done to relieve pain, improve comfort, and prevent small foot problems from becoming major down the road. Here are seven age-related foot problems and how to fix them.
1. Arthritis.
An specialist claims all 30 joints in your foot might deteriorate with age. Arthritis usually affects the big toe or midfoot joints on top of your foot. In addition to discomfort, you may experience morning stiffness that improves with movement but increases at night. An expert suggests shoe inserts, range-of-motion exercises, and weight loss if you’re overweight.
An expert believes hip and knee arthritis can also cause foot discomfort by changing your posture. See your doctor if any of your joints hurt—treating hip and knee arthritis with exercise or medication frequently reduces foot pain, he says.
2. Fat disappears.
Humans have collagen and elastin cushions filled with adipose tissue on their foot. Collagen synthesis declines with aging, weakening fat pads.
Without this cushioning, “your feet feel fine in the morning, but toward the end of the day you have a lot of pain because you’re essentially walking on bones,” one expert adds.
He says injections and fat grafts are unproven. Cushioned, comfy shoes with insoles or gel pads are the only definite remedy.
3. Curled toes
We’re not talking about sex. High heels can cause persistent hammertoes. As your crooked toes brush against your shoes, corns and calluses may develop.
Avoid hammertoes by cushioning corns and calluses and wearing shoes with broader toe boxes.
“I often have women stand on a blank piece of paper barefoot, and trace the outline of their foot,” explains one expert. I put their shoe on top. I don’t buy shoes with toes poking out.”
Stilettos can still be worn. Wear well-fitting suede flats or walking or running shoes throughout the day if you intend to wear them out at night. “The more support you can give your feet, the less inflammation you’ll incur throughout the day—and the better you’ll be able to tolerate a dressier shoe at night,” one expert explains.
4. Slow circulation.
Experts believe diabetes, vascular disease, and other age-related disorders might impede foot blood flow. Each cut from stepping on a sharp item or new-shoe blister heals slowly. With nerve loss, which typically accompanies the same health concerns, you may not notice a growing infection, resulting in an ulcer that won’t heal.
Hire a podiatrist if you have one of these ailments. Check your feet for cuts and scratches and treat them immediately. An expert suggests adding a bathroom floor mirror to view them better.
5. Tendons contract.
Yoga class less flexible? Age reduces tendon water content, hardening ankle cords and other areas. An expert claims this hinders Downward Dog and increases your chance of rips and ruptures.
He advises staying active. Fit in 10 requires 10 minutes every day. Calf raises help avoid Achilles tendon relapses. This exercise also loosens stiff ankles.
6. Dry skin.
Collagen plumps skin and cushions your feet. Reduced supply dries and cracks your feet.
Stay hydrated and use Ahava Mineral Foot Cream ($22, ahavaus.com) twice a day to fight back. “Most people don’t realize the importance of frequency; they don’t understand why their dry skin is not improving when they apply skin cream every other day or even daily,” an expert adds.
7. Ligaments lengthen.
However, ligaments can stretch and flatten your foot, causing arch pain. In addition, your brain’s backup sensors for ligament overstretching begin to malfunction. This throws you off balance and causes repeated ankle sprains.
One ankle sprain? Ask a podiatrist or other health expert about preventing the next one. A brace and ankle-strengthening activities like ankle circles and toe lifts may help you stay stable when exercising or playing sports.
Conclusion:-
Foot pain and discomfort are not inevitable as we age. Seven age-related foot problems can be addressed to improve comfort and prevent them from becoming major issues. Arthritis affects all 30 joints in the foot, and treatment can include shoe inserts, range-of-motion exercises, and weight loss. Fat disappears with aging, weakening collagen and elastin cushions. Cushioned shoes with insoles or gel pads are the only definite remedy. Curl toes can result from high heels, and wearing shoes with broader toe boxes can help avoid hammertoes. Slow circulation can be a result of diabetes, vascular disease, and other age-related disorders. Tendons contract due to reduced tendon water content, hardening ankle cords, and hindering Downward Dog. Staying active and engaging in activities like Fit in 10 can help prevent rips and ruptures. Dry skin can be a problem due to reduced collagen supply, so use Ahava Mineral Foot Cream twice a day to fight back. Ligaments lengthen, causing arch pain and malfunctioning brain backup sensors for ligament overstretching. Regular braces and ankle-strengthening activities can help maintain stability during exercise or sports.
