Winter Foot Care Tips!

Winter Foot Care Tips

This morning set a record in Waterloo Region for being the coldest with a temperature of -24C for January 13th. This helped remind us that winter is HERE! (I don’t think we needed reminding, as the severe cold definitely alert us).  Let’s keep our feet healthy so that they are ready to go when the warm weather roles around… hopefully soon.

So, here are your Winter Foot Care Tips!

1)      Moisture perfect feet

The winter hits us with a hard dilemma; often we wear waterproof boots and warm winter socks. This is perfect to keep your feet warm and dry, but only for so long. Eventually our feet may perspire.  Did you know sweaty damp feet cause your feet to cool faster and makes you more prone to bacterial infections? Try and bring an extra set of socks, wear cotton socks (help wick away moisture) and make sure your socks are clean.

The second dilemma is often the cold winter air causes our skin to become cracked and dry. Moisturizing is extremely important. We recommend you moisturize twice a day with a colourless, unscented moisturizer. Avoid putting moisturizer between your toes and make sure you are not moisturizing feet that are already moist.

2)      Winter Activities

Skiing and Snowboarding season is here. Always wear appropriate footwear for the activity you are doing; ski boots for skis and snowboard boots for snowboards. Make sure the boots fit, you should be able to wiggle your toes and the boots should limit motion in the heel, instep and ball of your foot. Custom foot orthotics may have to be added to your boots to assist with the immobilization.

Running – Winter does not mean we have to stop running all together. Most companies now offer warm, light-weight, moisture wicking material that will help keep you warm and dry in harsh weather conditions. Watch for ice! Often runners will alter their foot strike to compensate for icy conditions. Instead alter your stride length to add more stability. You may want to purchase “trail” running shoes for more traction. Most important is to stretch/ have a proper warm up before you run. Due to the cold temperatures, we are not as flexible as we are in the summer.

3)      Be Smart

Make sure your winter shoes are the right size. Too often we see children with boots a couple sizes too small. We understand, why spend money on boots that are only worn for a couple months a year? However, the small investment now will help avoid the future expense later.

Wear winter appropriate shoes. It is no longer summer; please avoid flip flops or sandals. Also, avoid shoes that do not wick away moisture or are not waterproof. Summer sneakers easily become damp if not soaked when trekking through snow and slush.

Finally, STAY WARM! Keep your fingers and toes warm, frostbite can be avoided with proper clothing and footwear. We wish you a happy and safe winter!