Your very first steps likely didn’t get you very far.
But soon, your feet became a driving force that got you where you wanted to go.
Although the bones in your feet stop growing, other factors can affect foot width or length throughout life.
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These include weight gain, fallen arches, and other physical changes.
This article discusses how feet grow, when they typically stop growing, and factors affectingshoe size.
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How Do Feet Grow?
Bones in your feet, like other long bones, havegrowth plates.
That’s an area at the end of a bone containingcartilagecells that eventually becomebone.
All your bones grow from the regions of the growth plates.
Your bones continue to grow until the growth plates harden or close.
Some people may reach their early 20s before growth plates completely close.
When Do Feet Stop Growing in Males?
Feet generally stop growing when you stop growing in height.
On average, growth plates in males tend to close around age 16 or 17.
When Do Feet Stop Growing in Females?
Your feet usually reach full size as you reach full height.
In females, growth plates tend to close around age 14 or 15.
Is It Possible for Feet to Never Stop Growing?
The bones in your feet stop growing when your growth plates close.
Continued actual growth is not possible.
However, your body never stops changing.
What Causes Your Feet to Change in Size Later in Life?
People spend a lot of time on their feet.
A bunion is a bony lump inside the forefoot at the big toe joint.
A bunion that forms at the joint of the little toe is called a bunionette.
Bunions tend to get worse over time and sometimes cause the big toe to shift toward the other toes.
Does Pregnancy Cause Your Feet to Get Bigger?
Your feet don’t grow during pregnancy, but you might need a bigger shoe size.
That’s because pregnancy, especially the first one, can cause permanent structuralchanges in the feet.
During pregnancy, ligaments are more relaxed, and there’s also extra weight on joints and ligaments.
This can cause the arch to drop and lengthen the foot.
In the meantime, it’s important to wear thecorrect size shoes.
Shoes that don’t fit properly can cause foot problems.
Even so, you may find that you need a bigger shoe size.
See a healthcare provider if you have persistent foot pain, swelling, or other problems with your feet.
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Arthritis Foundation.Anatomy of the foot.
SEER training modules.Bone development & growth.
American Podiatric Medical Association.Tips to keep feet warm and cozy all winter long.
Harvard Health Publishing.Why your feet get bigger as you age.
Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.Flat feet.
American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.Bunions.
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Foot pain and problems.
