10 Tips to Keep Your Feet Happy for the Holidays

1: Wear Properly Fitted Shoes

Don’t compromise your foot comfort or foot health while you’re out shopping or attending parties. You should ensure your holiday footwear fits correctly. When you wear shoes or boots that are too tight or too big, you can irritate your feet, leading to calluses, corns, blisters, swelling, and potential injuries. Ensure your shoes fit your feet in length, width, and depth while you’re standing. When buying new shoes, pick shoes that provide your feet with good arch support and cushioned soles to absorb shock and the repetitive pressure from standing and walking.

2: Avoid or Limit High Heels

Sure, those stilettos might look cute at first, but after a few hours of standing or spins on the dance floor, you'll be regretting your decision. High-heels can put excessive pressure on the balls of your feet and can even change your posture and gait. You'll eventually experience pain and possible injuries to your arches, achilles tendon, and the muscles in your feet and calves. Look for party shoes that are no higher than 2 inches. If you want your shoes to stand out, choose fun, eye-catching details over higher heels.

3: Give Your Feet Frequent Breaks

You may be tempted to power through your shopping list, but don't sacrifice your feet in the process. Hard floor surfaces like concrete, asphalt, hard wood, or tile can beat up your feet when you’re on them for too long. While walking and standing for long periods, your feet endure excessive impact, pressure, and shear forces that can lead to foot pain or even plantar fasciitis. Try to sit down and take a break every few hours to have healthy, well rested holiday feet. As a bonus, you'll feel rejuvenated for your next round of holiday endeavors.

4: Don’t Overindulge

Did you know certain foods can cause foot swelling or gout? Foods and beverages, such as shellfish, red meat, red wine, and beer, are high in purines, a colorless crystalline compound. High levels of purines in foods can trigger extremely painful gout attacks, especially in the big toe. Try to limit or avoid these types of foods at holiday parties.

5: Watch Out for Slippery Weather Conditions

A winter wonderland may look beautiful, but it can be very dangerous. Use caution when walking on wet, icy, or snowy surfaces to avoid falls and potential injuries. Make sure your footwear has soles that provide adequate traction to help avoid slips or falls.

6: Keep Your Feet Warm and Dry

If you’re going to be outdoors in the cold weather for extended periods, avoid frostbite by wearing appropriate footwear for cold temperatures or snow. Choose footwear that is waterproof and provides good insulation. Wear high quality socks made with wool or synthetic fibers that wick moisture away from your feet to keep them dry. If your feet get wet, change out of your damp shoes and socks as soon as possible.

7: Keep Your Feet Moisturized

When dry winter air combines with heat, your skin can become dry and cracked. If you experience deep cracks in the skin on your heels, you may have heel fissures. For beautiful, healthy holiday feet, apply a moisturizer to the top and bottom of your feet after you bathe to keep them supple. Avoid applying lotion between your toes, especially if you have diabetes or another condition that affects blood flow. Otherwise, lesions can form which could cause an infection.

8: Be Safety Conscious when Booking a Holiday Pedicure

Nail salons can be a breeding ground for bacteria, such as MRSA. Make sure you choose a salon that’s licensed by the state and follows proper sanitation practices.

9: Listen to Your Feet

Don’t let foot pain ruin your holiday fun. If you experience chronic pain or have symptoms of a serious condition, schedule an appointment with a healthcare professional, like a podiatrist or a certified pedorthist. Your doctor or foot expert can recommend a treatment plan to help get you back on your feet for your favorite festive activities.

10: Get Extra Support with Custom Orthotics (or Ensure Your Current Orthotics Are Comfortable)

If you suffer from chronic pain in your feet, ankles, knees, hips, and/or back, custom orthotics can help alleviate pain and provide your feet with the support they need for the holiday season and year round. By bringing your feet back to proper alignment, you’ll experience reduced stress and strain on your body and less or no pain. If you already have custom orthotics that may be in need of repair, we can refurbish them for you at a fraction of the cost of new orthotics. We will make sure your feet start off the new year with comfort and joy!