Why Foot Care Is Critical For Healthy Aging
Let's face it: your feet go through a lot, and they probably deserve more love than you give them. You may not feel like you're neglecting your feet, but that's no reason to skip out on healthy foot care. One of the best things you can do to take care of your feet is wear a pair of shoes that isn't too tight and provides support. Massages, rolling a tennis ball under your foot, vinegar soaks, and keeping your feet clean and dry are also a few things that can help you keep your feet in tiptop shape (via Healthline).
As we age, certain foot problems become more common. Our bodies produce less collagen, which leads to thinning of the skin, including the fatty layer on the bottoms of our feet. This can lead to several issues. The most typical problems associated with aging feet include dry skin, flat feet, shortened Achilles tendons, arthritis, circulatory problems, and thicker and more brittle nails (via Verywell Health).
Lack of proper foot care can lead to other problems
Functional medicine doctor Frank Lipman suggests stepping up your foot care game when you're older, because weak feet may lead to other parts of the body trying to compensate. He explained to MindBodyGreen that muscles and tendons in the feet that function poorly may lead to pain in the calves and hips. The foot's job is to absorb shock, and if that ability is minimized, it will impact other body parts. In fact, a 2017 study supported this theory by showing a correlation between foot pain and knee and/or hip pain, per the Hospital for Special Surgery.
One theory behind this connection is that people compensate for pain by modifying certain movements. While changing how we walk might help with foot pain, it could cause misalignment or other problems. The researchers even speculated that this might even explain why arthritis develops in more than one joint. Either way, there's never been a better reason to take care of your feet.