How Aging Affects Your Feet

8 Common Problems and Why They Occur

By Catherine Moyer, DPM

Updated on September 23, 2020

 Medically reviewed by Keri Peterson, MD

Aging takes its toll on your feet as it does with the rest of your body. Given the amount of stress we place on our feet over a lifetime, it’s easy to see why these problems occur. In addition to general wear-and-tear, there are physiological changes that will affect how your joints, bones, and tendons function.

Feet dangling from dock with sun shining in background
Ascent Xmedia / Getty Images

These changes tend to develop gradually as cell turnover and collagen production begin to slow. As the skin starts to thin, so, too, will the fatty layer cushioning the soles and heels.

These changes can give rise to stability problems affecting the knees, hips, and lower back. The gradual wearing down of cartilage in the joint space, along with inflammation of bursa and tendons, only adds to the burden.

The most common aging-associated foot problems are those that affect the skin, connective tissues, joints, nails, and blood circulation.1

Dry Skin

Dry skin, especially on the soles of the feet, is a problem that may require a daily application of moisturizer to prevent cracking and infection. The gradual depletion of collagen, exacerbated by the lack of consistent foot care, can lead to the formation of cracked heels and calluses.2

Continue Reading: How Aging Affects Your Feet and Ankles (verywellhealth.com)

Article submitted to MSRN by Pat France, MSRN Member