As you age, you don’t need to run marathons or pump iron to stay fit; a brisk walk a couple of days a week is all you need. Walking is beneficial for people of all shapes and sizes. It makes a great addition to any fitness routine, whether you want to shed extra pounds or strengthen your muscles. However, seniors have to be more careful while walking as it can put extra stress on your knees, feet, ankles, and hips, especially if you have a condition like bunions, plantar fasciitis, or other types of foot problem. This stress can be relieved by wearing supportive footwear the save nice cushioning and doesn’t pinch your toes, ankles, or heels and cause blisters to form. If you an elderly and thinking of adopting a walking routine, we have put together a list of some of the best walking shoes for seniors after searching through every corner of the internet. Get your hands on one of these and get the highest level of comfort for walking.
What to Look For In The Best Walking Shoes For Seniors
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Lightweight and Breathable Material
The material of the shoes is one of the most important things to consider while buying a pair of shoes. Make sure that it is lightweight and breathable enough to ensure maximum comfort. Flexible and soft materials are of the utmost importance when you have painful bunions or any other foot condition. Such material will prevent extra pressure on the affected areas and keep you comfortable throughout the walk around the park.
The stability of a shoe ensures more motion control while walking. A stable shoe will support your arches and ankle. It will adjust to the shape and motion of your heel and reduce impact and stress on the heels. Cushioned motion control is crucial for seniors who overpronate.
Good support and cushioning are essential in any walking shoe, especially for elderly women. Make sure that the shoe buy provides adequate cushioning that reduces stress on the feet and absorbs shock in addition to a comfortable fit. Ample support from the midsole and outsole will reduce strain on your lower limbs and feet making you more comfortable.
Look for the shoe that has a wider fit and more toe room and with some extra length between the shoe and the toe. With a shoe like that, you will get a comfortable fit even with swelling or any foot condition.
Choose the shoe with a seamless interior and a material that does not bother your skin. When we get older, our skin becomes softer and is less prone to chafing and uncomfortable shoes or socks can lead to sores and blisters.
Find a pair of shoes with a good slip-resistant rubber sole to ensure better grip, more stability, and less risk of slipping. Slip-resistant sole can be a lifesaver for old people as it reduces the risk of falling which can lead to very severe injury. Choose the shoe with groove patterns that extend to the edges on the bottom of the shoe. This pattern allows water or mud to escape and help you maintain your balance even in wet conditions.
You might need the shoes that allow you to take the insole out if you want to use custom or over-the-counter orthotics for your shoes.
Heels higher than an inch and a half put undue stress on the toes by shifting your weight forward. However, a flat shoe can also be uncomfortable to your feet. Find a slightly raised and wide heel that will take the strain off your feet and lower limbs.
It can be helpful for stabilizing your ankle. A hard insert in the heel may give the shoe a firm structure and can reduce the risk of falling. But it can irritate and scratch your Achilles tendon without ample padding.
Why Do The Elderly Need Good Walking Shoes
Moderate exercise is recommended by doctors for older people. Walking is moderate enough for the seniors to keep them fit and strong. Also, it is an excellent recreational activity for the elderly. If you are still wondering why you should start walking a few days a week, here are a few great advantages of walking for older people:
- It not only improves your physical health but also your mental health and alertness.
- It keeps a check on your weight.
- It lowers the risk of getting sick and develops health conditions.
- It makes you feel fit, healthy, and energetic.
- It makes your muscles strong making you less susceptible to any serious damage in case you are injured or get sick.
What Should You Know About Aging Feet
Your feet need to be healthy for any activity and movement. It is also a catalyst for a healthy lifestyle. They are the base of your support that carry all your weight. As we age, the bottom of the feet may start to become weaker. Here are some things that can happen to your feet with age.
We have fat padding at the bottom of our feet, especially on the heels. This padding starts to diminish with age especially when you lose weight due to which there is less shock absorbency from the padding. This can result in discomfort and pain and also conditions like Bunions and calluses.
Older people tend to gain extra weight quicker which increases strain on the joints and feet. This can cause discomfort and pain and increases the risk of injury.
Poor circulation to your feet due to conditions like Diabetes and Neuropathy can cause your feet to swell and cause pain because of the reduced blood flow. Elderly people are more prone to this condition than kids and young people.
Different foot ailments like Bunions, Corns, calluses, Plantar Fasciitis, and Hammertoes may become more evident with age. The best solution to that is more care and comfortable shoes that are a perfect fit.