Foot Care & Aging

Aging & Foot Care

When we are in love we may be “swept
off our feet.” When we don’t want to do something, we are said to have “cold
feet.” A sensible person “has both feet
on the ground.” Sometimes we even “vote with our feet.”

Years of wear and tear can be hard on our feet. So can
disease, poor circulation, improperly trimmed toenails, and wearing shoes that
don’t fit properly. Problems with our feet can be the first sign of more serious
medical conditions such as arthritis, diabetes, and nerve and circulatory
disorders.

Preventing Foot Trouble

Practice good foot care. Check your feet regularly, or
have a member of your family check them. Podiatrists and primary care doctors (internists and family
practitioners) are qualified to treat most foot problems. Sometimes the special
skills of an orthopedic surgeon or dermatologist are needed.

It also helps to keep blood circulating to your feet as much as possible. Do
this by putting your feet up when you are sitting or lying down, stretching if
you’ve had to sit for a long while, walking, having a gentle foot massage, or
taking a warm foot bath. Try to avoid pressure from shoes that don’t fit right.
Try not to expose your feet to cold temperatures. Don’t sit for long periods of
time (especially with your legs crossed). Don’t smoke.

Wearing comfortable shoes that fit well can prevent many foot ailments. Here
are some tips for getting a proper shoe fit:

• The size of your feet changes as you grow older so
  always have your feet measured before buying shoes. The best time to measure
  your feet is at the end of the day when your feet are largest.

• Most of us have one foot that is larger than the other,
  so fit your shoe to your larger foot.

• Don’t select shoes by the size marked inside the shoe
  but by how the shoe fits your foot.

• Select a shoe that is shaped like your foot.
• During the fitting process, make sure there is enough
  space (3/8″ to 1/2″) for your longest toe at the end of each shoe when you are
  standing up.

• Make sure the ball of your foot fits comfortably into
  the widest part of the shoe.

• Don’t buy shoes that feel too tight and expect them to
  stretch to fit.

• Your heel should fit comfortably in the shoe with a
  minimum amount of slipping – the shoes should not ride up and down on your
  heel when you walk.

• Walk in the shoes to make sure they fit and feel right. Then take them
  home and spend some time walking on carpet to make sure the fit is a good
  one.

The upper part of the shoes should be made of a soft,
flexible material to match the shape of your foot. Shoes made of leather can
reduce the possibility of skin irritations. Soles should provide solid footing and not be slippery.
Thick soles cushion your feet when walking on hard surfaces. Low-heeled shoes
are more comfortable, safer, and less damaging than high-heeled shoes.

Common Foot Problems

Fungal and Bacterial Conditions, including athlete’s foot, occur
because our feet spend a lot of time in shoes – a warm, dark, humid place that
is perfect for fungus to grow. Fungal and bacterial conditions can cause dry
skin, redness, blisters, itching, and peeling.
If not treated right away, an infection may be hard to cure. If not treated
properly, the infection may reoccur. To prevent infections, keep your feet –
especially the area between your toes – clean and dry. Change your shoes and
socks or stockings often to help keep your feet dry. Try dusting your feet daily
with foot powder. If your foot condition does not get better within 2 weeks, talk to your doctor.

Dry skin can cause
itching and burning feet. Use mild soap in small amounts and a moisturizing
cream or lotion on your legs and feet every day. Be
careful about adding oils to bath water since they can make your feet and
bathtub very slippery.

Corns and calluses
are caused by friction and pressure when the bony parts of your feet rub against
your shoes. If you have corns or calluses, see your doctor. Sometimes wearing
shoes that fit better or using special pads solves the problem. Treating corns
and calluses yourself may be harmful, especially if you have diabetes or poor
circulation. Over-the-counter medicines contain acids that destroy the tissue
but do not treat the cause. Sometimes these medicines reduce the need for
surgery, but check with your doctor before
using them.

Warts are skin
growths caused by viruses. They are sometimes painful and, if untreated, may
spread. Since over-the-counter preparations rarely cure warts, see your doctor.
A doctor can apply medicines, burn or freeze the wart
off, or take the wart off with surgery.

Bunions develop when the joints
in your big toe no longer fit together as they should and become swollen and
tender. Bunions tend to run in families. If a bunion is not severe, wearing
shoes cut wide at the instep and toes, taping the foot, or wearing pads that
cushion the bunion may help the pain. Other
treatments include physical therapy and wearing orthotic devices or shoe
inserts. A doctor can also prescribe anti-inflammatory drugs and cortisone injections
for pain. Sometimes surgery is needed to relieve the pressure and repair the toe
joint.

Ingrown toenails occur when a
piece of the nail breaks the skin – which can happen if you don’t cut your nails
properly. Ingrown toenails are very common in the large toes. A doctor can
remove the part of the nail that is cutting into the skin. This allows the area
to heal. Ingrown toenails can often be avoided by cutting the toenail straight across and level with the top of the
toe.

Hammertoe is caused by a
shortening of the tendons that control toe movements. The toe knuckle is usually
enlarged, drawing the toe back. Over time, the joint enlarges and stiffens as it
rubs against shoes. Your balance may be
affected. Wearing shoes and stockings with plenty of toe room is a treatment for
hammertoe. In very serious cases, surgery may be needed.

Spurs are calcium growths that
develop on bones of your feet. They are caused by muscle strain in the feet.
Standing for long periods of time, wearing badly fitting shoes, or being
overweight can make spurs worse. Sometimes spurs
are completely painless – at other times they can be very painful. Treatments
for spurs include using foot supports, heel pads, and heel cups. Sometimes
surgery is needed.

For additional information, please visit the
Senior Health Center.

Source: National Institutes of Health, National Institute of
Aging