If you’re a parent who feels like they are constantly replacing shoes for their children because their feet won’t stop growing, you’re not alone. This period of rapid growth is common during childhood and adolescence, but when can you expect their feet to stop growing? In today’s blog, we take a closer look at when men’s and women’s feet tend to stop growing.
When Will My Feet Stop Growing?
Our feet tend to grow the fastest during puberty, so don’t be surprised if you child says that their feet not longer fit in their shoes after a couple of months. And while everyone will experience growth and development a little differently, both males and females can expect that their feet will typically stop growing around 20-22 years of age.
When you go through puberty also plays a role in how your feet develop and when they stop growing. In many cases, girls tend to go through puberty before boys, so they tend to notice the most foot growth between the ages of 8 and 13. Foot growth continues, but at a slower rate, around 12 years old until it eventually stops around the age of 20. Boys tend to have the biggest foot growth spurt during the ages of 10-15. Foot growth continues, but at a slower rate, around 14 years old until it eventually stops around the age of 20. Again, these ages can vary from person to person based on genetics, puberty and other factors.
Once you turn 20 years old, you’re still not in the clear to continue buying the same size shoes for the rest of your life. For starters, your feet could still grow into your early twenties, so it’s a good idea to continue to get your feet measured at this point in your life. Also, shoe size is not standardized across all brands and designers, so while you may be a size 9 in Nike shoes, you may need a 9.5 for those business casual shoes that you wear into the office. Don’t assume that you’ll always buy the same sized shoe for the rest of your life once your foot stops growing.
And finally, know that although your feet may stop growing once you’ve reached a certain age, that doesn’t mean that their shape will forever remain the same. Our arches can fall, bunions can develop or our feet can widen as fat pads decrease, and these foot changes may require us to consider a different sized shoe when we’re older. Again, don’t expect to always wear the same size shoes once you hit your early twenties, because your foot size and shape can certainly change!
Poor fitting shoes are one of the leading causes of foot injuries, so if you need help getting fitted for the right shoe or overcoming a shoe-related foot problem, reach out to Dr. Silverman and the team at Silverman Ankle & Foot today at (952) 224-8500.