Stop Vacation Foot Pain in it's Tracks!
Posted: Sunday, April 27, 2008
by Marybeth Crane
Foot & Ankle Associates of North Texas
Sore feet can slow down your vacation fun! Although rest and relaxation are the goals for most vacations, they usually involve a lot of walking.
"Walking is great exercise and one of the most reliable forms of transportation," says Marybeth Crane, DPM, FACFAS, a foot and ankle surgeon with Foot and Ankle Associates of North Texas, LLP in Grapevine, Texas. "But if your feet aren't in the best shape or you don't have the right shoes, too much walking can cause foot problems."
1. Change your socks often and wear a thick, absorbent type made out of acrylic instead of cotton!
2. Make sure to dry your feet thoroughly after bathing, especially between your toes. Powder and even anti-perspirant, if you sweat a lot, should be used prior to putting on your shoes.
3. Nails should be cut regularly, straight across the toe. Avoid cutting your toenails too short and watch for ingrown toenails.
4. Use moisturizer on your feet daily and watch for athlete's foot infections.
5. Massage any aching muscles after exercise and apply ice to any sore joints for at least 15 minutes.
6. Any serious foot problems like bunions, hammertoes or significant pain should be evaluated by a podiatric foot and ankle surgeon prior to your planned vacation. Custom in-shoe orthotics can help balance your feet so your walking vacation can be more enjoyable and pain free!
"The right shoe is also important to healthy walking," say Crane. "The ideal walking shoe should be stable from side to side, and well-cushioned, and it should enable you to walk smoothly. Many running shoes will fit the bill." She adds there are also shoes made specially for walking. Walking shoes tend to be slightly less cushioned, yet not as bulky, and lighter than running shoes. Whether a walking or running shoe, the shoes need to feel stable and comfortable.
Never wear new shoes for the first time on vacation. Always "break them in" for at least a week to make sure the fit is proper and there are no seams rubbing! Blisters can put a damper on a vacation!
Also, two pairs of shoes can be very helpful in making your vacation more comfortable. After a vigorous day walking, your shoes need almost 24 hours to dry out and become more functional.
Warming up exercises to help alleviate any muscle stiffness or pulled muscles is also advised before walking. Stretching your heel cords (Achilles and calf) as well as your thigh muscles before a walk is especially effective.
"If you're not accustomed to long walks, start slowly and rest if your feet start hurting," says Crane. "And above all, have fun."
--------
Dr. Marybeth Crane is a marathon runner, mother-of-three, podiatric foot and ankle surgeon. Your feet are the most important part of your body! For more foot health tips or for doctor-approved foot care products, visit my website or peruse my blog!
This Article has been viewed 395 times. (Not updated in real-time.)
Top-level comments on this article: (1 total)Ok how do I get my wife to do these things? I don;t walk she does. Miles and miles and miles on frankly, well lets just say here shoes leave something to be desired. I'll strat with her reading this. Good job.
We want your comments! If you can read this, you don't have javascript enabled, so you can't use this comment system. Please enable javascript.