Holiday Foot Care Reminders

Holiday shopping, attending parties, decorating and traveling are all part of our holiday activities. While you are making all that merriment, do you stop and check if your feet are merry, too?

Here are some tips on how to ensure that your feet are still doing great amidst all the holiday activities:

Keep your feet dry. Wear socks that are made of wool/synthetic fiber blends because they wick moisture away from the feet, reducing the possibility of fungal infections, blisters and other foot conditions. Take off wet socks and shoes as soon as possible. Dry your feet thoroughly and put on a fresh pair of dry padded socks and shoes.

Keep your feet warm. If you are going outdoors in very cold weather for an extended period of time, it is best to wear padded socks – two pairs at a time. You have to make sure, however, that the shoes you wear can accommodate the extra bulk. Your shoes should fit comfortably – not too loose or too tight.

Keep the skin on your feet supple. If your skin becomes dry and cracked, applying moisturizing lotion to the dorsal (top) and plantar (bottom) surfaces of your feet.

Avoid or limit the time spent in high heels. When you wear high heels, especially spike-heeled party shoes, do not spend a lot of time walking around or dancing in them. Once you are up and walking around on them, the weight distribution on the heel and ball of your feet is all wrong. Your posture and gait change as well, setting the stage for injury to your arches, Achilles tendons and the muscles in your lower legs and feet.

Wear shoes that are broken in – especially when travelling. Do not pack a brand new pair of shoes and hope they will comfortable when you get to your destination. You should fit your shoes while wearing the appropriate padded socks to help ensure the correct fit.

Give your feet a break. After a long day of power shopping, your feet would have landed on hard surfaces such as asphalt, concrete, hardwood floors and tiles. Pressure, shear forces and impact work against your feet so take a break every couple of hours.

Remember, you should never endure any pain or discomfort you feel on your feet!