It’s the holiday season – a time to go shopping, attend parties or even visit northern Arizona to play in the snow.  Your feet can get tired and sore, so here are some tips on how to keep your feet healthy and injury free.

Wear the right pair of shoes and boots  – if you plan to attend any parties, where a comfortable and sensible shoe especially with a low heel.  Make sure that the shoe is not too tight, and the heel is not too high.  The last thing you want to happen at a party is to injure your feet.  This applies to winter boots and wearing a sensible pair especially if you are visiting a place that has snow or ice.   Boots should have a low heel and you are able to walk in snow or icy conditions.  By wearing the right pair of shoes and boots, you protect your feet from blisters, calluses and even ankle injuries.

Watch for ice and snow – even though we rarely get any snow or have icy conditions in the Phoenix area, you might visit an area with these weather conditions.  These winter wonderlands are beautiful but wear the right pair of shoes or boots to these places and watch for ice or snow patches along your walks.  Ankle injuries are one of the most common foot injuries that happen in the winter months.

Be mindful about how much you eat and drink  – By eating too much food that is high in uric acid, this can cause a painful flair up of gout in your feet.  Be moderate and mindful when it comes to your food choices.

Pedicures can make your feet happy  – Enjoying a pedicure can offer your feet some much needed relief if they are tired and sore.  Make sure the nail salon is clean and they follow proper sanitation practices.  All nail technicians should be licensed in the state of Arizona.  The last thing you would want to experience is a bacterial infection or even an infected ingrown toenail during the holidays.

 Listen to your feet – if your feet are in pain, inspect them for any ingrown toenails, bruising, swelling, blisters, or calluses.  If you suffer a foot or ankle injury, call our office to be evaluated or go to the nearest urgent care or emergency room.  By delaying treatment, you can cause additional complications to the foot and ankle including chronic ankle instability and pain, arthritis, and deformity.

Keeping your feet healthy and safe this holiday season is important.  However, if you or someone you know has a foot injury, please consider making an appointment with Dr. Margaret Withrow or Dr. Dylan Kaumaya with Roadrunner Foot and Ankle in Peoria Arizona.  We want to make sure you enjoy this holiday season without any foot pain.