Aging Feet ------What?

Yes, the September 2024 issue of Arthritis Advisor tells us that our feet age just as the rest of the body. Knowing about the changes might help ward off problems and are good tips at any age.

Most people rarely think about their feet (runners and other athletes excepted), except when it comes to buying shoes, and the Surgical Podiatry Department at the Cleveland Clinic reassures us that, in general, it's not normal to have foot pain.

But as we age, they caution, fat pads on the bottom of the feet thin, as does the skin, our bones become less dense, our joints become worn, and circulation and nerve problems can arise. Wow! We'll be looking at our feet more closely from now on.

They review each circumstance, and for most readers of this website, you're following some of their advice already: use weight bearing exercise to strengthen your bones and maintain good circulation by being active each day - including walking.

They warn that decreased bone density increases the risk of bone fractures from even minor trauma, and they encourage bone density testing after age 65, as well as including calcium and Vitamin D in your diet and supplementation.

Osteoarthritis is a condition that may need to be handled because it becomes more of a concern as we age and is not something we can proactively prevent. The cartilage covering the ends of bones in the joints may wear down. They cite the big toe and the middle of the foot as well as any of the joints in the foot as being susceptible; x-ray and proper diagnosis can pinpoint any generalized foot pain. This type of discomfort may come and go and is best handled with topical analgesics after diagnosis affirms that it is not a broken bone. Their best advice is to make sure that your shoes provide the proper cushioning, support, and stability, and if necessary, to buy shoes where you can get help with fitting and sizing rather than online.

Carol: I tend to wear my athletic footwear until there is almost no sole because I am active and busy, so this advice about shoes is well taken and should be heeded no matter your age.

Another aging factor that has a simple solution is the thinning of skin caused by loss of collagen which may result in more feet "dryness, callouses, scaling, and infectious problems," according to Dr. Georgeanne Botek at the Cleveland Clinic. She goes on to explain that fungal infections can enter the body from cracks in the skin from corns or calluses and cause cellulitis which can spread to the legs. The Clinic sees this type of cellulitis later in life more often in people with bunions or hammertoes.

Their simple recommendations: keep feet hydrated with moisturizing cream (not lotion), preferably applied daily (Clarence has been doing this for many years), and protect the skin by using socks and shoes (both indoors and out).

Their additional recommendation is to keep your toenails trimmed to help prevent fungal infections.

The last aging issues mentioned are circulatory and nerve problems. These are often signs of health conditions such as diabetes, spinal stenosis, or back surgery and cause tingling, numbness and weakness (peripheral neuropathy of the feet).

The information to be drawn from their discussion of circulatory problems is simply to be aware of symptoms such as pain in your toes when you sleep or cramping of the calves when walking which point to circulatory problems which should be checked by your doctor.

They encourage daily walking, staying hydrated, elevating legs and compression socks, along with maintaining good blood pressure in order to help maintain good blood circulation in the feet.

The Special Health Report from Harvard Medical School this month is also about foot care and suggests that people think about incorporating a range of exercise activities such as swimming or bicycling in their routine to put less pressure on the joints of the foot. They also suggest that if you are planning to increase your activity level that adding some cushioning shoe inserts may be helpful in preventing problems.

They, too, recommend moisturizing cream as a strategy, but caution not to apply cream between the toes which is a naturally moist area and may encourage bacterial growth.

Awareness of possible foot problems and some simple remedies can help keep your feet "healthy and pain-free."

Although I have not yet struggled with foot problems, a number of people close to me have had to deal with that. My dad, who was very active in competitive sports, suffered from arthritis in the big toe of his left foot. The problem got so bad for him that he finally had it surgically repaired and, thankfully, that seemed to do the trick for him. My wife has had to deal with recurrent bouts with plantar fasciitis, which causes tremendous pain in the heel area. Through experience and physical therapy, she has learned which exercises and stretches help her to cope with that. Through her proactive stretching program, she has mostly managed to keep that problem at bay. I agree with your advice in that article about investing in good shoes, especially if you are someone who walks several thousand steps each day.

Good article on feet and shoes. I have become good friends with our local shoemaker, and have special inlay soles made for all the shoes that I use more than "just once in a while". The soles sometimes cost as much as or more than the shoes, but they can of course be moved between similar shoes. And in any case: it's really really worth it! As for using cream: never really thought about that. I'll get right to it! Thank you for yet another good tip.

Svein

Ripped Enterprises, P.O. Box 51236, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87181-1236
or street address: 528 Chama, N.E., Albuquerque, New Mexico 87108,
Phone (505) 266-5858 , e-mail: cncbass@aol.com ,
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From The Desk Of Clarence Bass