You probably take them for granted, and give little thought to the health of your feet, until a problem arises. Maybe you’re suddenly experiencing some bumps on your feet or curls in your toes that make your shoes less comfortable (did you know it’s estimated that 3 out of 4 people, especially older adults, do not wear the appropriate size shoes?) Or your balance is wobbly and you think you need sturdier shoes or to start some foot exercises. Or maybe your feet suddenly smell and you can’t figure out what the problem is (probably a combination of sweat, moisture, and bacteria). So now it’s time to pay some attention and better understand the essential role of your feet for healthy aging and as indicators of the health and well-being of the rest of your body.

Feet play a vital and central role in human anatomy and functioning. Problems with feet can be signals that something else is wrong, whether it’s a viral infection, cardiovascular problem, or even neurologic disease. The swelling of a foot could be a signal of a blood clot. Moreover, if you suffer from diabetes, arthritis, poor circulation, or neuropathy, your feet, which daily support the weight of your entire body (especially challenging as we gain weight with age), can then suffer real injuries or problems, including loss of fat pads on the soles or balls of your feet, arch collapses making your feet less flexible, stiffness in ankle and foot joints and skin breakdowns, which can lead to infections.  Aging itself can lead to changes in shoe size and the flattening and widening of your feet. In fact, in a single day, your shoe size can fluctuate as much as ½ a size. And as we noted with so many wearing the wrong size shoe, research shows that poorly fitting shoes are associated with 5x the risk of getting diabetic foot ulcers and pose a risk of bone fractures from a fall.

One common but not completely understood foot problem suffered by many are bunions. According to a recent article in National Geographic, up to 25 % of all of today’s adults suffer from bunions, a type of foot deformity in which the big toe (or possibly the pinkie toe) leans in toward the other toes, causing the big toe joint to push out and protrude from the foot. Women and adults over 65 are the most likely to get bunions, and in addition to swelling and redness (and causing shoes to fit poorly), bunions can lead to nerve pain, numbness, and skin breakdowns. The pain can become chronic, putting you at risk for falls and limiting your mobility. Genetics appears to play some role in who is afflicted with bunions, and while there is treatment to relieve pain, the only surefire way to correct the problem is with surgery. So they are a common but not frivolous problem.

How to protect your feet from some of these looming problems? Don’t think of going barefoot as a way to avoid the complications of ill-fitting shoes, as going barefoot causes its own problems. There are exercises you can do to keep your feet more flexible and stretched, including “foot yoga.” Also, practicing good foot hygiene, including regularly keeping your feet clean, dry, and nails properly clipped is essential for keeping your feet healthy. Medicare does pay for certain exams and interventions to ensure good foot health, and you should make a habit of regularly checking in on your feet, and not wait for a problem to arise. And about those ill-fitting and uncomfortable shoes? Get your feet properly measured and then take a look at some of the best options on the market here.