The number 1 thing to do to look after your feet this winter:

Does your winter footwear fit? 

The most common conditions we treat throughout winter are related to pain and pressure points throughout the feet, due to changing footwear as the cold creeps upon us. Common winter ailments of the feet include blisters , ingrown toenails, calluses, corns, chilblains and other friction related conditions.

When selecting footwear, it is important to check the following:

• Do my shoes have the necessary support and stability?
• If my shoes are new – do they fit comfortably straight out of the box? If it feels tight or uncomfortable then it might not be the right fit for you.
• Am I experiencing pain or pressure in certain areas of my feet when wearing the shoes?

Winter shoes, specifically new shoes or shoes that you may not have worn for a while might have a slightly different shape/fit, resulting in a variance in friction/pressure points on your feet.

These can cause friction blisters, corns, calluses, ingrown toenails, and potentially result in more serious medical care including antibiotics and even surgery.

OUR TIPS FOR WINTER FOOT CARE:

• Invest in shoes that are fitted correctly (as tempting as those online sales may be!)
• Support and orthotics – if you have been prescribed them already make sure you wear your orthotics. If you are encountering pain that could be due to lack of support it might be worthwhile doing a biomechanical assessment with a podiatrist to ensure you are getting the support you need.
• If you do end up with any painful lumps or bumps including blisters, corns and calluses, or start to see signs of an ingrown toenail that is painful it can be worthwhile getting it looked at and treated before it escalates to an infection. It may need to be popped/relieved with hygenic and sterile practices to reduce potential for infection.
• A note on running shoes – if you are breaking in new running shoes we recommend starting off with smaller distances, and building up to longer distances to break the shoes in.
• Chilblains – warm feet can assist, avoid restrictive footwear and sudden changes in temperature.