4 Ways Aging Can Hurt Your Feet

As you get older, all that wear and tear eventually catches up to you — and for some people it happens earlier than for others. Since your feet and ankles form the foundation for the rest of your body to stand upon, they are subjected to an inordinate amount of stress and pressure over time that can cause a variety of foot and ankle problems ranging from skin conditions to  tendon injuries.

4 common foot and ankle problems that occur more frequently as you age include:

1)    Arthritis—Stress and pressure on your joints caused by everyday wear and tear takes a considerable toll on your feet and various types of arthritis can cause debilitating swelling and stiffness. The ankle and big toe joints are often the first to exhibit signs of arthritis.

2)    Skin conditions—A variety of skin ailments on the feet tend to develop as we get older including calluses and corns. Some types of skin cancer can look very much like benign skin growths like warts, so have any skin growths or lesions inspected by your foot doctor to help avoid the spread of cancer.

3)    Toenail abnormalities—As you age, your toenails grow more slowly and become thicker and more brittle, especially if you have a fungal toenail infection. Thick and brittle nails can be harder to trim properly and ingrown toenails may occur.

4)    Tendon and ligament stretching—Your tendons and other connective tissues get looser as you get older and are more susceptible to injury including tendonitis, arch problems, and ankle sprains.

Taking good care of your feet throughout your life can help minimize and prevent many foot and ankle problems, so be certain to have regular visits with your foot doctor. At E.J. Nemet Podiatry in Twinsburg,  E.J. Nemet, DPM, treats a variety of foot and ankle conditions, including sports injuries, pediatric foot problems, diabetic foot complications, nerve disorders, and toenail and skin conditions. With advanced technologies and a dedicated staff, Dr. Nemet provides expert and compassionate care to patients in the Twinsburg and Beachwood areas. To contact us or to schedule an appointment, please call (234) 212-9940.