Top 5 Tips to Care for Your Feet as You Age

Posted by Foot and Ankle Associates on September 5th, 2019

As you age, you are likely to take care of your health but one important body part that often remains off radar is the feet. Though your feet are under tremendous amounts of pressure, you may often neglect them when it comes to taking care of your overall health. However, you should remember that aging affects your feet just as it does the rest of your body. Indeed you can call your feet the unsung hero of your mobility and hence should take all the necessary steps to ensure that they stay healthy. Here are the top five-foot care tips that you should adhere to.

1. Maintaining Ideal Weight: As you age your BMI (Body Mass Index) increases, especially if you start leading a sedentary life. This excess weight puts your feet under extra pressure which they find difficult to handle. As a result, your risk of foot pain increases. The solution lies in shedding the excess flab and leading an active life in order to maintain an ideal weight.
2. Using External Cushioning: Humans are born with a specific amount of fat under the feet, particularly under the balls and the heels, which facilitates shock absorption. Since aging triggers the loss of this fat pad, you are likely to become more susceptible to balance problems, bruised bones and stress fractures as you get older. Podiatrists suggest using external cushioning (such as gel pads, insoles, etc.) to supplement the fat pad, which can help you steer clear of pain and other foot problems as you age.
3. Seeking Medical Attention for Numbness or Tingling Sensation in Feet: Blood circulation problems are common in older people. The blood flow to your feet may also be affected by other factors such as smoking, peripheral neuropathy, diabetes, and blood clots. Since poor or obstructed blood flow often manifests itself in the form of pain, numbness and tingling sensation in the feet, you should seek medical attention if you experience such conditions.
4. Performing Basic Stretches and Simple Exercises for Maintaining Foot Mobility: For strengthening your foot muscles, you should do simple stretches and exercises after consulting your foot doctor. These could include foot circles, basic stretches for your Achilles, heel, and toe raises, standing on one foot, etc. Many podiatrists suggest swimming and cycling as cardio workouts. Since they aren’t weight-bearing activities, they are easier on your feet.
5. Getting an Annual Foot Check-Up Done: As you get older, you should ensure that you get an annual foot health check is done as it’s as important as your hearing or sight test. Regular foot checkups can help the doctor identify the first signs of trouble caused by conditions like diabetes, circulatory problems, etc. Even some common problems such as cracked skin, corns, and ingrown toenails can be successfully treated on time if you don’t miss your regular appointments with your podiatrist. 

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