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How Getting Older Affects Your Feet

The abuse that your feet take over the years really adds up, so it’s important to be aware of this and to remember that you have a major role to play in the health of your feet by engaging in proper exercise, sticking to a healthy diet, and by seeing your podiatrist every year to help treat and avoid foot and ankle problems.

Some common effects of aging on the feet include:

  • Stability and balance problems—Peripheral artery disease and diabetes tend to affect people more as they age creating weakness in the feet and ankles and decreasing balance control that could cause a fall. Custom braces like the Moore Balance Brace are an excellent solution that greatly improves support and stability.
  • Skin problems—Cancerous skin lesions are more likely to appear on the feet and ankles as you get older. Cancerous lesions can often resemble other skin conditions like moles and warts, so always have them checked out by your foot doctor. Suspicious lesions will be biopsied and a sample will be sent to a lab for further analysis.
  • ArthritisInflammation of the joints as we age can be caused by a variety of problems, with arthritis being one of the main culprits. The joints of the ankle and big toe are often made stiff and painful by gouty arthritis, osteoarthritis, and rheumatoid arthritis.

For age-related problems you may be experiencing with your feet and ankles, contact your foot care professional for proper diagnosis and treatment. At Your Next Step, we have a team of board-certified podiatrists who can diagnose and treat a variety of foot and ankle problems. Common issues include sports injuries, joint pain, toe deformities, nail fungus, and chronic tendon pain. Foot doctors Dr. Eric Ricefield, Dr. Mark Yagodich, and Dr. Aliza V. Eisen provide high-quality podiatric care to patients in the greater Philadelphia area. Contact our offices in Ardmore, Paoli, Woodlyn, and Downingtown, PA for more information or to schedule an appointment.

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