Do you know how to choose the best shoes for your aging feet? When you grow, the shape of your feet also changes accordingly, and you also look for the best shoes that are best suited for your feet, but when you get old, you have to be more careful about choosing the best shoes for your aging feet.
The reason is that when a person gets old or has aging feet, it is time for elderly people to choose shoes more wisely because any wrong choice could cost them injury, which is not good for aging feet.
So now the question is how to choose the best shoes for your aging feet. What are the features or points you have to consider before buying shoes for your aging feet?
Changes In Your Feet When You Age
Always remember that your feet’s size and shape will change with your age as you grow, and your shoes will also change due to these changes. You have to be careful when choosing shoes for your aging feet, and you should know how to choose the best shoes for your aging feet.
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Changes In Length And Width In Your Aging Feet
As you get old your feet’ length and width change, not the same as it was before at your young age. So it’s quite normal and common that your shoe size will increase or may have size or more.
So, before choosing shoes for your aging feet, re-measure your feet and choose the shoes according to the current condition and shape of your feet.
Swelling in Feet
It might be possible that you experience swelling in your feet or your ankle due to some health issue or medication. So it’s better for you to go for a larger size of shoes and avoid wearing those shoes which you normally wear. It will prevent you from having pain and injuries.
Natural Cushioning Of Your Footpad Get Thin
When you get old or your feet are aging, you will realize that at the bottom of your foot there is a footpad that is also getting loose and getting thin, so while walking you feel some pain or discomfort and sometimes feel fatigued.
So always choose shoes for your aging feet with cushions, or you can also use an insole to help your foot pad to prevent discomfort and fatigue. It will give you support and comfort while walking.
Foot Problems Can Worsen
While getting old, there are lots of changes happening and different conditions develop in your aging feet from time to time, like bunions or your toe getting bent permanently downward, which is also called hammertoes too.
So you can face serious problems or injuries if you wear pointed-toe shoes. To prevent these issues, choose shoes that are comfortable and best suited for your aging feet.
Changes In Walking Style
Some medical conditions like Arthritis, neuropathy, and some other conditions could affect your gait and completely change your walking style. These problems will affect your walking speed, which will cause you to limp.
The reason for these issues is that they place pressure on different areas of your foot, which leads to your foot’s discomfort. Usually, gait changes develop after the age of 70 in most people.
So you have to be very careful and check properly and choose the shoes which keep your aging feet comfy and relaxed and you don’t feel any problem while walking in the shoe.
Foot Problems Due To Diabetes
If you are a diabetic, you will face a loss of blood circulation and sensation in your feet, You need to be very conscious and be very careful while choosing a pair of shoes for your aging feet.
Always make sure before buying them that your shoes fit well and don’t rub which could cause a blister and can lead to infection.
Foot Balance Issues
As you get older, your ability to balance yourself gets reduced, especially when you walk, and you can get a slip or trip due to this.
So you have to choose the shoes for your aging feet which should be non-slip and should have a good support design that helps you and prevents you from any slip or trip while walking.
It’s kind of advice for aging feet when you go out and buy a pair of shoes. Always shop at a time when your feet are a little more swollen and always wear socks, which will help you to get the correct fit.
Which are shoes not recommended for your aging feet?
Different types of shoes are not recommended for aging feet.
Shoes With Pointy-Toed
Always avoid buying shoes or boots with pointed toes because they cause sores and can injure your feet. Always go for shoes with proper square toes, which will give your toe some room and will keep it relaxed and comfortable while walking.
Shoes With High Heels Taller Than 2 1/4 Inches
If you are fond of wearing high heels and you are an elderly person and have aging feet, then your feet are at risk of injuries and could damage your ankle as well while walking. Always avoid shoes with a high and wider heel.
Non-Slip-Soled Shoes
For aging feet, a non-slip shoe is always advisable. It will keep you away from falling or slipping while walking, so buy shoes with non-slip soles.
Shoes With Low Back or Backless Clogs, Sandals
Avoid buying shoes that have a low back or backless, clogs, or sandals. The reason, not recommend kinds of shoes for aging feet, is that they don’t have proper grip and are always on an incline while walking and it will affect your motion while walking too.
Always go for the shoes which should be comfortable having a padded back strap that keeps your feet in grip and fit. Avoid shoes or sandals which give you blister strap rub while walking.
Avoid Low Quality and Materials
Never compromise on quality and comfort for your aging feet. Always buy shoes with good support and structure, Even the slippers you wear around the house should have a firm sole and good quality.
No Thicker Rounded Sloe
For an aging foot, it’s never recommended to wear a shoe with a thicker sole and with rounded heels, especially when you have difficulties balancing your feet and your gaits are not steady or normal.
Never use old, worn-out, or out shoes.
As you have aging feet, you have to be more conscious about your shoes. Never use a shoe that has lost its cushioning and support. Avoid using worn shoes and always check your shoes when you notice damage from the outside or inside. To avoid any injury, go for a new pair of shoes.
Easy Slip-On Shoes
For an aging foot or elderly person, we always recommend choosing shoes that should be easy to slip on, with a wide opening and easy fastening on both sides of the shoe, which will make it easy for elderly people to wear them.
No Laces
Some elderly people face difficulty bending their bodies and have arthritis while wearing and reaching their shoelaces, so it’s advised to buy shoes with no laces. Velcro shoes are more advisable because they can be fastened on both sides of the shoe, so there is no need to lace up the shoe, and are excellent solutions to this issue.
What are the benefits of choosing the best pair of shoes for your aging feet?
There are lots of benefits to choosing and wearing proper shoes for your aging feet:
They always help you to stay active while walking or running.
These shoes keep your feet balanced and align.
Those shoes will help to keep the muscles of your feet from becoming weak and keep them strong and comfortable.
Comfortable shoes for aging feet provide protection and strong support to your feet, which helps your feet improve mobility and enhance comfort.
Wearing adaptive walking shoes for the elderly always keeps your feet fit properly and improves the overall quality of life.
Wearing not properly fitting shoes can adversely affect the mood and outlook of your feet which causes you injuries.
Conclusion
Before choosing shoes for your aging feet, you should know how to choose the best shoes for your aging feet. Always remember that maintaining a healthy and active lifestyle is very important for you.
Always go for the shoe which is best suited for your feet as you age, and better yet, get advice from some expert about your feet so that they can advise you which kind of shoe is best suitable for your feet.
Always check all features of the shoes and wear them and walk for a while and make sure it doesn’t hurt you and keep your feet comfy and relaxed and also you should know about your feet well that you have any injury or have any issue or not according to that choose the best shoes for your aging feet.
Treat your feet to the right shoes so you can keep them happy and comfortable while walking.
FAQS
How can you safeguard your feet as you become older?
For optimal hygiene, wash and thoroughly dry your feet.
Wear new, clean socks every day, and replace them.
Keep both the interior and exterior of your shoes spotless.
Don’t wear the same pair of shoes two days in a row; alternate your shoes.
Put on properly sized shoes.
How should elderly people’s feet be treated?
It helps to prevent the skin from drying out, cracking, and itching by using mild soaps followed by lotion. In addition to aiding in the prevention of fungus infections, keeping the feet warm can improve circulation. Maintaining neat toenails helps avoid issues like ingrown nails and toe pain.
As we age, do our feet lose padding?
It’s common to observe a lack of padding in the foot as people get older. The initial symptoms of fat pad atrophy in elderly persons are foot pain along the heel and foot as they lose this cushioning layer. Fortunately, wearing cushioned shoes or even foam shoe inserts can significantly reduce some of this discomfort.
