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While the bones in your feet stop growing in your late teens or early twenties, it is a common phenomenon for people to notice a change in shoe size after turning 40. This is not due to actual bone growth, but rather a combination of age-related factors that alter your foot's shape and size.
According to a study of male veterans, nearly half experienced an increase of at least one shoe size in adulthood, mostly between ages 45 and 60. While it may feel like your feet grow longer as you age, the reality is that the bones themselves stop growing after adolescence. The increase in foot size is not due to actual growth, but rather a structural transformation caused by years of wear and tear, gravity, and other physiological factors. This flattening and widening can affect your comfort and mobility, making proper foot care essential.
By your early twenties, the growth plates in your feet have sealed, meaning your bones are no longer growing longer. So, can your feet get longer in your 30s? While actual bone growth is not the reason, several factors can cause your foot size and shape to change significantly over time, affecting your shoe size.
While the bones of the feet stop growing in your late teens, approximately one-third of adults report having feet that are a different size than they were 10 years ago. This phenomenon prompts the question: Does foot size increase with age? The answer is more complex than a simple yes or no, involving a number of age-related and lifestyle factors that alter the foot's shape and size over time.
While the bones in your feet stop growing by your early twenties, the answer to the question, **do your feet get bigger in your 30s**, is often yes for reasons that have nothing to do with a growth spurt. These changes are a natural part of the aging process, impacting foot width and length due to structural shifts over time. Understanding these underlying causes is key to proactive foot care.
While the bony structure of the foot is typically finished growing by your late teens, many adults notice their shoe size changes significantly over time. The complex answer to **does your shoe size change when you get older?** lies beyond simple bone growth and is rooted in the natural, age-related changes affecting your entire body.
