As the years go on, you might expect the waistband of your jeans to fit a little snugger or your favorite tee to become a bit tighter. But you may not have expected to go through something similar with your shoes.
The fact is, even adults’ shoes can feel too small. It may seem strange that your feet can still change, so here, Dr. Sean Rosenblum at Foot and Ankle Care of Passaic shares a few of the reasons why your feet (and shoes) feel different.
One of the primary reasons your feet have changed is simply wear-and-tear over time. Each foot consists of two dozen or so bones that are supported by a complex network of ligaments, tendons, and muscles.
When you were younger, these soft tissues were elastic and allowed your foot to stretch and bounce back easily with use. As you get older, however, constant use wears down the elasticity in these tissues, leaving them more lax.
It’s similar to your socks. Because of constant use and washing, your socks eventually lose their shape and elasticity. The tiny little elastic bands begin to snap, leaving the socks limp and out of shape. That same process can happen in the tendons and ligaments in your feet.
On the other hand, your feet can also change shape because of excessive tightness in your supporting ligaments and tendons. This is especially true if you’ve spent time in footwear that causes an imbalance in the inner structures of your feet.
Tight feet may also stem from hammertoes and bunions, which develop because of imbalances in your tendons and ligaments that cause your feet to change shape.
Although flat feet are typically diagnosed early on in life, adult-acquired flatfoot is fairly common. It typically develops as the result of wear-and-tear in your supporting tendons (namely your posterior tibial tendon). This tendon supports your arches, and when it malfunctions because of stress, it loses its grip on your arch, causing it to collapse and your feet to flatten.
An unfortunate part of getting older is often getting a little heavier. This has numerous health complications, including some that cause structural changes in your feet. As their burden increases, your feet can become larger as your support tissues begin to become less elastic.
When you were younger, the pads of your feet enjoyed a healthy layer of fat that acted as a barrier between the ground and your inner structures. This fat tends to dissipate as you get older, which is why older people often complain of tender feet. Though tenderness is a frustrating and unfortunate side effect, the loss of the extra padding also leaves you vulnerable to foot changes.
If you’re frustrated with foot changes, you can request an appointment today at our Lodi, New Jersey, office by calling our friendly staff or using our online booking tool.
