As residents’ feet change, so too may their footwear needs

Ill-fitting shoes can cause a wide array of problems among senior living residents, including toes that hurt, as well as pain the mid arch, heel or entire foot, a new study finds.

So notes a research review appearing in Maturitas. 

Investigators noted proper footwear can be a stealth problem, as changes in the feet of residents often happen gradually. A shoe that was a good fit in prior years may can cause discomfort or worse in old age, the review found. Older people often have a lower arch but increased circumference of the forefoot, ankle and instep than younger people, investigators noted.

Researchers noted that proper footwear should first and foremost align with the resident’s actual foot. Heel height should be low and broad enough. The shoe also should be easy to put on or take off, they added.