Your Feet Change As You Age
One of the more obvious changes that take place with your feet as you get older is that the fat pads under the balls and heels of your feet tend to then out. On some people they disappear completely. The result is increased pressure on the ball of the foot and on the heel bone.
This increased pressure often leads to inflammation, pain, a greater risk for blisters and sores, and a burning sensation when you walk. The problem is that fat helps reduce friction, and the less fat you have under the balls of your feet, the hotter your feet get with each step. The pain from this can become intense because the nerve endings on the bottoms of your feet are close to the surface of the skin. Making matters worse are when you stand or walk for a long time, particularly on hard surfaces, and if you are over weight,
Once the fat at the bottom of the foot pad goes away it does not come back. You can relieve the pain with aspirin or ibuprofen or find spongy insoles and flexible plastic cups that fit around the heels. If that doesn’t work, a foot care specialist may prescribe orthotics.
Actually, some foot care specialists do try to restore the fat by injecting the area with collagen. The problem is that the collagen usually breaks down in a year so it must be injected regularly. It does get costly but it does work for some people.
If you have problems with your heel pads, what kinds of remedies have you tried? Share your story and tell us what to look for and what not to buy.
To your success at healthy aging.
Ruthan
Tagged with: fat pad • foot problems • heel pad • Ruthan Brodsky
Filed under: Conditions and Diseases
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Hi Ruthan,
An athletic shoe that fits really well (get fitted at a running shoe store by an experienced shoe fitter) can give much relief. They have a lot of padding on the bottoms and support your bones almost like a glove.
Yes, the fat padding on the bottom of the foot does flatten and shift sideways, however, I have a theory: M
.-= Kathryn Merrow – The Pain Relief Coach´s last blog ..Restless Legs Relief =-.
Oops, I hit the wrong button above, sorry!
Back to the theory: My suspicion is that the more you walk barefoot (or with socks on) and without shoes, the tougher the tissues will become on the bottoms of your feet.
Also, a good, sturdy (supports your arch) orthotic or arch support, either inserted into your shoe, or built into a sandal or shoe will help position your foot in the correct position. That takes pressure off the arch.
I have seen advertisements for pressure-sensitive foam insoles. While they may feel comfy, they may also be simply supporting your dysfunction.
I hope this helps, too.
Kathryn
.-= Kathryn Merrow – The Pain Relief Coach´s last blog ..Restless Legs Relief =-.