Our feet typically stop growing in our early twenties, and most people enjoy that their shoe size doesn’t vary much if at all once they reach this point in life. So while it may become easier to pick the right size shoe as we get older, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t put some thought into the process.
In fact, you need to be more deliberate about what types of shoes you’re choosing as you get older, even if your feet have stopped getting bigger. In today’s blog, we share some tips for choosing the right shoes as you age.
Picking The Right Shoe As You Get Older
You want to be a little more deliberate when you’re picking out shoes as you get older. Here are some tips to consider when looking for your next pair. Not all of these tips may apply to your situation, but they can act as a partial checklist when choosing your next pair of shoes. You’ll want to:
Choose Comfort Over Style – Comfort is king, especially if you’ll be wearing those shoes for an extended period of time. Wearing your little red heels for an evening dinner date won’t kill your feet, but if you have tight-fitting or uncomfortable work shoes that you spend hours in each day, it can cause problems for your feet.
Ditch The Lift – Heels that are over two inches in height put extra strain on your feet, and that can lead to problems like hammertoes and bunions. If you’re dead set on heels, go with a lower option and one without a narrow toe box, and again, wear them in moderation.
Get A Grip – Falls are one of the leading causes of hospital admission for patients over the age of 65, and sometimes falls are caused by a slippery shoes or one whose grip has worn out. Find a shoe or a boot with a durable and strong grip. It’s also imperative that you wear the right shoe for the occasion. Don’t walk your dog in the winter in slick running shoes, and don’t wear sandals for mowing the lawn. Pick the right shoe with the right grip for the occasion.
Consider An Insert – Feet come in all different shapes and sizes, and because of this, some shoes may not contour to the curve and shape of our feet as well as others. If you like a pair of shoes but wish it was elevated in the midsection to better support your high arches, invest in an orthotic insert for added support. Choose a shoe that supports your foot shape, but if you need extra support, go with an orthotic shoe insert.
Watch For Foot Changes – Even though your foot may not be growing, the shape can still change, and that will affect your footwear choices. We naturally begin to lose some of the fat pads on the bottom of our feet as we age, so you may need a shoe with more cushioning or support in the sole. If our arches fall, our feet may widen just a bit and we may need to go with a wide shoe option. Have your feet measured every time you’re trying on a new pair of shoes, and pick a pair based on any changes.