at an older age do a person's feet change in size?

Question

I am in my 50's and am having feet problems at the ankles. I have a stand up job for 9 hours. I am wondering if a person's feet change in size as in getting wider.
thanks for any import you all can give me. I have been wearing the best of walking shoes too for 5 years now.

Answer 1

No. I am 61 and have taken care of the elderly since I graduated from nursing school. Your feet don't change, it's your physiology. Arthritis will cause the symptoms you have and can even change the shape of your feet in more severe cases. My feet have remained the same size all my life. Hope you feel better.

Answer 2

I don't know if feet size is supposed to change but mine has. I wore a 7 1/2 for years; then it was an 8, then it was 8 1/2 WIDE; now at 66, I wear as much as a 9. But perhaps since I have rheumatoid and osteo arthritis and my toes are "splatting" every which direction, that's the only cause.
I cannot stand shoes of any kind that touch my little toes. So I'm a barefoot girl most of the time.

Answer 3

Please ignore that supposedly 'Best Answer' - it's medically unsafe and factually wrong. Feet *do* change as we age as the tendons, ligaments and fatty pads that support the bones of the foot lose elasticity. This is normal and happens to the healthiest and most athletic of people, including those with no underlying conditions. Feet get longer and wider, which can easily affect shoe size and if ignored can cause ingrown toenails (the big toe tends to curl upwards and press against the shoe), blisters and general discomfort. Don't be surprised if your feet grow by two sizes between the ages of 40 and 60 and don't force your feet into shoes that are too small - vast numbers of people are waering shoes that don't fit simply because they don't realise that this happens and many foot problems in the 40+ group can be attributed to this. Just resign yourself to shoe shopping!