Winter is a time to snuggle up, batten down the hatches and keep your feet and toes nice and warm! But your feet can get achy and painful during the colder winter months for no apparent reason. There may be some underlying issues that we can help you with, or you might just need to take a little extra care of your feet this winter.
1. General aches and pains
The cold temperature can cause the tissues in your muscles and tendons to contract which causes joint pain and mobility problems. Conditions such as plantar fasciitis and heel pain can also be exacerbated during the colder weather.
What to do: Keep your feet warm and dry in winter. Give them a massage in the evenings to loosen tension and ease pain or discomfort.
2. Unsupportive footwear
It’s important to wear warm and snug shoes in winter but if your socks are too thick and the shoes a little too snug, they will cause blisters, corns and calluses as well as aggravating bunions.
What to do: Make sure you wear boots or shoes during winter that give your feet plenty of breathing space while also being supportive.
3. Athlete’s Foot
Fungi thrive in warm and wet environments. If your toes aren’t dried properly after a shower, or your feet get wet in closed shoes, it becomes a perfect breeding ground for Athlete’s foot or tinea to thrive, causing itching and discomfort.
What to do: Give your feet plenty of fresh air where possible and make sure you dry between your toes after every shower. If you step in puddles and get your feet wet, replace wet socks immediately.
4. Chilblains
If you have poor circulation, and you move from cold to warm environments to quickly, you may get chilblains. The blood vessels constrict in colder temperatures and if you try and warm them up too fast, this causes swollen red spots on the skin of your toes.
What to do: if your feet are very cold, rub them gently to bring circulation back before you heat them up with a heat pack or a heater. Gradually warming them up is essential to avoid chilblains.
Book an appointment at a Sanders Podiatry Clinic – Linden Park, Stirling and Mt Barker
We’ll help you look after your feet this winter and give you guidance on how to avoid unnecessary pain and potential problems in the future with tips and advice for ongoing care. Our family-friendly clinics are located in Linden Park, Stirling and Mt Barker. We work with people of all ages, from toddlers to the elderly, for all foot concerns.
Call us to make an appointment with one of our experienced podiatrists.
Sander Podiatry Adelaide – 08 8379 1456 (Greenhill Podiatry)
… [Trackback]
[…] Find More on that Topic: sanderspodiatry.com.au/blog/2022/06/15/why-do-my-feet-ache-in-winter-4-common-foot-problems/ […]