Shoes for Seniors

If style is the main objective when you select shoes, your feet may suffer, especially as you age. Over time, your feet become wider and longer and the natural padding under your heel and forefoot thins. Years of use also flatten your arches and stiffen your feet and ankles. Aging boomers and senior citizens need to match their shoes to these changes.

If you often wear shoes that are too short or too narrow, you may develop foot deformities such as bunions, calluses or corns, hammertoes or pinched nerves between your toes. Wearing better-fitting shoes reduces your chances of developing deformities or making them worse.

The July issue of Mayo Clinic Women’s HealthSource offers these tips when selecting shoes:

> Try on shoes later in the day. Feet can swell as the day wears on.

> Fit shoes to your largest foot. Your feet aren’t equally matched, so have both measured.

> Make sure there’s at least a half-inch for your longest toe at the end of each shoe when you’re standing. You should be able to wiggle all toes.

> Make sure your heel doesn’t ride up and down when you walk.

> Leave too-tight shoes behind. There’s no such thing as a break-in period.

> Look for shoes that are solidly constructed, conform to your feet and have cushioned soles that absorb the shock of hard surfaces.

> Try a lace-up style. A shoe that ties can be adjusted for better comfort and support.

> Look for a natural material, such as leather, on the upper portion of the shoes because it’s usually softer and provides more flexibility than a man-made material.

If you have diabetes, osteoporosis, rheumatoid arthritis or other conditions that put you at risk of foot problems, ask your doctor what other precautions are recommended.

More about Aging Feet

By American Podiatric Medical Association

Whether due to neglect or abuse, the normal wear and tear of the years causes changes in feet. As persons age, their feet tend to spread, and lose the fatty pads that cushion the bottom of the feet. Additional weight can affect the bone and ligament structure. Older people, consequently, should have their feet measured for shoe sizes more frequently, rather than presuming that their shoe sizes remain constant. Dry skin and brittle nails are other conditions older people commonly face. Finally, it’s a fact that women, young and old, have four times as many foot problems as men, and high heels are often the culprits.

Observing preventive foot health care has many benefits. Chief among them are that it can increase comfort, limit the possibility of additional medical problems, reduce the chances of hospitalization because of infection, and lessen requirements for other institutional care.

Keep Them Walking

Studies show that care for a bedridden patient costs much more than care for an ambulatory patient. In their private practices and in foot clinics, podiatric physicians are providing services designed to keep older people on their feet, and they serve in hospitals and nursing homes across the country.

Records indicate that amputations and other forms of surgery due to infections of the feet, many brought about by diabetes, have been significantly reduced in recent years because of early diagnosis and treatment. Further reduction in this area is a goal of Healthy People 2010, a US Department of Health and Human Services campaign endorsed by podiatric physicians, to encourage understanding and application of preventive medical practices.

Foot Health Tips

Properly fitted shoes are essential; an astonishing number of people wear shoes that don’t fit right, and cause serious foot problems.
A shoe with a firm sole and soft upper is best for daily activities.
Shop for shoes in the afternoon; feet tend to swell during the day.
Walking is the best exercise for your feet.
Pantyhose or stockings should be of the correct size and preferably free of seams.
Do not wear constricting garters or tie your stockings in knots.
Never cut corns and calluses with a razor, pocket knife, or other such instrument; use over-the-counter foot products only with the advice of a podiatrist.
Bathe your feet daily in lukewarm (not hot) water, using a mild soap, preferably one containing moisturizers, or use a moisturizer separately. Test the water temperature with your hand.
Trim or file your toenails straight across.
Inspect your feet every day or have someone do this for you. If you notice any redness, swelling, cracks in the skin, or sores, consult your podiatrist.
Have your feet examined by a DPM at least twice a year.