Your feet really get abused over the years, so it’s important to be aware of what to expect as you get older and to remember that you have to keep your feet and the rest of your body in tip-top shape to avoid major problems. While proper exercise and diet can mitigate the effects of aging on your feet, you will inevitably experience the following conditions at some point.

Age-Related Foot Problems

Here are some of the most common effects of aging on the feet:

• Lesions, moles, and other skin problems—Friendly and cancerous skin lesions are more likely to appear on the feet and ankles as we age, but you should always have these evaluated by your foot doctor to rule out a malignancy.
• Arthritis and inflammation—Inflammation of the joints caused by everyday use take a toll on your feet. Frequently, the joint of the big toe is one of the first to be severely affected either by gout or injury. Toe deformities like bunions and hammertoes are often exacerbated by arthritis.
• Swelling—Hormonal changes can cause the feet to swell during the aging process. Peripheral artery disease and some of the medications you may be taking can contribute to this edema.
• Balance and coordination difficulties—Complications from diabetes and other age-related factors may lead to falls. Moore Balance Braces are custom made ankle/foot orthotics that provide stability and support and help prevent falls by minimizing abnormal ankle movements and destabilization.

You can’t stop the aging process, but you can still take good care of our feet and slow the process down. So it’s essential that you have your feet and ankles evaluated by your foot care professional. At Your Next Step, our board-certified podiatrists have access to advanced technologies and years of experience to help diagnose and treat a variety of foot and ankle problems. Common issues include sports injuries, joint pain, bunions, nail fungus, chronic tendon pain, and skin problems. Dr. Eric Ricefield, Dr. Mark Yagodich and Dr. Aliza V. Eisen provide high-quality foot and ankle care to patients in the greater Philadelphia area at our offices conveniently located in Ardmore, Paoli, and Downingtown, PA. Please contact us for more information or to schedule an appointment.