Let's face it, our feet take a beating, bearing our full weight for a lifetime of walking and running, often in shoes that squeeze, rub or deform them. With age, the shape and condition of our feet change, setting the stage for a host of discomforting problems that can sometimes make it difficult to walk. According to estimates made by the American Podiatric Medical Association, people over age 55 have endured well over 100,000 miles, probably 200,000 or more. By the age of 50, the association figures, the average American has logged 75,000 foot miles. As the number of people over 50 swells, so will the patient loads of foot specialists and, one hopes, the choice of shoe styles that are kind to tender, tired feet.
Every body part suffers the slings and arrows of age, and feet are no exception.
A survey conducted in April among 1,000 adults by Yankelovich Partners disclosed that nearly half of Americans at any given time have some type of foot or ankle problem and that for one in five, foot or ankle problems have forced them to alter their activities. Upon reaching the 75,000-mile mark, half the natural padding under the ball of the foot may have been lost, and beyond 75,000 miles the deterioration seems to accelerate, podiatrists say. The scores of ligaments and tendons that hold together the 26 bones and 33 joints in each foot become stretched, resulting in feet that are wider and longer. Dr. Jonathan Deland, foot and ankle specialist at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York, reports that as people age, the risk increases for developing an often unrecognized condition called posterior tibial tendon insufficiency. If untreated in its early stages, it can result in an inability to walk.