The holiday season can be hard on your feet. You’re likely on your feet and on the run often. Shopping for gifts. Decorating your home. Cooking and baking holiday treats. Going to holiday parties and dinners. All this activity can add stress on feet, leading to pain. But you don’t have to let sore, achy feet ruin your festive season. If you want to have healthy holiday feet this December and early January, the WalkEZStore recommends you follow these tips:

No. 1: Wear Properly Fitted Shoes

Don’t compromise your foot comfort and safety while you’re out shopping or going to parties. You should make sure all your holiday or winter footwear fit correctly. When you wear shoes or boots that are too tight or too big, you can irritate your feet, leading to blisters, calluses, corns, swelling, and even ankle injuries. Ensure your footwear fits your feet in length, width, and depth while you’re standing. If you’re not sure how to properly size your shoes or boots, refer to the WalkEZStore Shoe Fitting Guide for more information. Also, when purchasing shoes, pick shoes that provide your feet with good support and have cushioned soles to absorb shock and the repetitive pressure from standing and walking.

No. 2: Avoid or Limit the Amount of Time Spent Wearing High Heels

While you may think those spiked heels will look cute on you at your holiday party, you may regret your decision after a few spins on the dance floor. High-heeled shoes can put an excessive amount of pressure on the balls of your feet. Additionally, they can change your posture and gait. Eventually, you’ll likely experience pain and possible injuries to the arches in your feet, Achilles tendons, and the muscles in your feet and lower legs. Therefore, choose party shoes that are no higher than 2 inches. If you want your shoes to stand out, choose those with eye-catching details.

No. 3: Take Frequent Breaks from Standing and Walking

You may want to power your way through your holiday shopping list, but it just makes sense to not spend too much time on your feet. 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, your feet endure excessive pressure, impact, and shear forces, which can lead to heel and arch pain, or even plantar fasciitis. Therefore, sit down and take a break every couple of hours to have healthy holiday feet that are well rested. Plus, you’ll feel rejuvenated for your next round of holiday endeavors.

No. 4: Don’t Overindulge in Holiday Fare.

Did you know certain foods can cause foot swelling or gout? Gout is a type of arthritis that’s caused from the buildup of uric acid crystals in the joints. 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. Therefore, limit or avoid these types of foods at holiday parties.

No. 5: Watch Out for Slippery Weather Conditions

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

No. 6: Keep Your Feet Warm and Dry

If you’re going to be outdoors in the cold weather for an extended period, make sure you avoid frostbite by wearing appropriate footwear for cold temperatures and snowy conditions. Choose footwear that provides good insulation and is waterproof. Additionally, 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.

If you suffer from cold feet due to a circulation condition, the WalkEZStore recommends wearing Infracare Bio-material Socks. The special bio-materials in these socks create a warming effect against your skin, helping to keep your feet toasty warm.

No. 7: Keep Your Feet Moisturized

When dry winter air combines with heat, your skin can become dry and cracked due to the lack of humidity. If you experience deep cracks in the skin on your heels, you may have heel fissures. For healthy holiday feet, apply a moisturizing lotion to the top and bottom surfaces of your feet after you bathe to help 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.

No. 8: Be Safety Conscious when Booking a Holiday Pedicure

Nail salons can be a breeding ground for bacteria, including MRSA. Therefore, ensure you choose a salon that’s licensed by the state and follows proper sanitation practices. You may even want to consider bringing your own pedicure instruments to your appointment.

No. 9: Listen to Your Feet

Don’t let foot pain and problems ruin your holiday fun. If you experience chronic pain or see signs 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.

No. 10: Get Extra Foot Support with Custom Orthotics

If you suffer from chronic pain in your feet, ankles, knees, hips, and/or back, custom orthotics, like ezWalker® Custom Fit Orthotics, can help provide your feet with the support they need this holiday season and all year round. These custom-made orthotic devices are designed to realign your feet into an anatomically efficient position that helps control your gait. By bringing your feet back into proper alignment, you’ll experience reduced stress and strain on your body. No stress and strain means you’ll experience less or no pain.

For more information about ezWalker® Custom Fit Orthotics, visit the WalkEZStore website. To order your own customized orthotics:

• Schedule an appointment with Kathy Carandang, our certified pedorthist, at this link.

OR

• Purchase your ezWalker® custom orthotics casting kit online here. Our kit comes with detailed instructions to help you create the mold for your custom orthotics. Just return the kit to the WalkEZStore to complete the production process. Once your custom orthotics are made, we’ll ship them back to you with instructions on how to use them.

Put Your Best Foot Forward for the Holidays

Don’t let overuse and stress from being on your feet all holiday season cause you pain. Have healthy holiday feet by following these tips and slipping ezWalker® Custom Fit Orthotics into your shoes and boots.

Because … when your feet feel good, you feel good.® And you’ll have a more joyful, festive season.

Disclaimer: The information included in this article is for educational purposes only. It should not be used as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. 

Cover photo: 123RF / Brian Chase