You know it’s important to stay fit for the health of your heart and muscles. But you may not know that foot fitness is just as vital as we age. Our daily locomotion depends on the strength and stability of our feet.

Weakness or immobility in the feet can cause pain farther up in our bodies, mainly in the knees, hips, back, and neck. Over time, poor foot fitness may lead to a host of issues. Conditions such as arthritis, bunions, plantar fasciitis, stiffness, cramping, numbness, and tingling make everyday movement difficult and can reduce quality of life.

Let’s take a look at how our feet change as we age and what we can do to keep them strong and fit. 

Aging Feet  

With aging come natural changes to our feet. For instance, it’s not uncommon to experience an increase in the length or width of the feet. Over time, the body’s ligaments and tendons lose their strength and ability to spring back. In feet, this manifests as a decrease or ‘’falling’’ of the arch, which flattens and lengthens the foot and toes. The result: often an increase in shoe size by a half-size or more.

At the same time, we also lose some of the cushioned layer in our feet that protects them from daily pounding. We’re all born with a certain amount of fat under our feet, especially under the heels and the balls of our feet, which allows for shock absorption. As we age, this fatty layer can atrophy, leading to pain in the ball of the foot and heel as well as the need for orthotics.  

Changes to toe mobility, such as bunions and hammertoes, affect foot stability and balance. Other conditions, such as arthritis and circulation problems, also reduce toe mobility and function.

​