There are many joys in growing older but having to deal with the aches and pains of an aging body is not one of them.
We can get a little creaky if we are not careful. Even our feet require additional care with each passing birthday.
Josée Gingras, Lead Pedorthist at The Stride Clinic, shares some tips on how to keep our feet healthy and comfortable in our silver years.
Changing Foot Shape
Did you know that our feet change size and shape as we age? According to Josée, it is important to re-assess our shoe size throughout our lives, not just as children.
“You may notice that you’re buying wider or longer shoes. Maybe those old dress shoes from 10 years ago are impossible to put on. As we age, our ligaments loosen and things spread out. That happens in our feet, too,” she explains.
It is important to have your feet re-measured each time you buy new shoes. It might also be time to pass on your favourite footwear from the last decades and replace them with something that fits better on your aging foot.
Common Foot Issues
Our feet not only change in size and shape as we age, but we can become more prone to some common foot issues like bunions, hammer toes, or capsulitis/synovitis can develop.
Bunions, often associated with hallux valgus (crooked big toe), is one of the most common foot deformities and may or may not cause pain. Hammer toe deformity is when the first joint of a toe is flexed and the second joint of the toe is extended. This deformity can be rigid or flexible. Capsulitis/synovitis, which are most common for women who wear tight high heeled shoes, is an inflammation in the joint between the toes and the foot.
“Fortunately, there are ways that we can help our clients to prevent problems from occurring as well as solve issues that have already started. Properly-fit shoes and custom foot orthotics are often a big part of the solution,” says Josée.
Keeping Your Feet Healthy
Josée says that there are a few things that we can do to ensure that our feet stay healthy as we age, including:
- Wear properly fitted shoes.
- Keep our feet moisturized to avoid cracking and possible infection.
- Make sure our toenails are well-maintained. If mobility is an issues or it’s medically required, have them professionally cared for.
- Address any issues as soon as they come up to avoid bigger problems down the road.
The Stride Clinic offers personalized assessments of a wide range of foot and lower limb issues. They also specialize in specialty and custom-made footwear, on-site handcrafted orthotics, and offer footcare nursing.
“If you are experiencing pain in your feet or lower limbs, come see us for an assessment,” invites Josée.
For more information or to make an appointment, visit The Stride Clinic online or call the Barrie clinic at (705) 735-1013 or their clinic in Orillia at (705) 326-5808.