Keep Your Feet Safe During the Cold Months

Enjoy the wonderful winter sports while also taking the proper precautions to keep your feet healthy.

While some people really enjoy hibernating during the winter months with tea and a book, there are others who can’t wait to see that fresh powdering of snow so that they can get out there and enjoy all of their favorite sports. If you are a professed snow bunny, our Boise podiatrists offer up some helpful ways to keep your feet healthy and safe during these colder months:

Wear the Right Footwear

While this might seem rather obvious, you would be surprised how many people don’t wear the right boots for skiing or snowboarding. While your boots should certainly be snug, they shouldn’t be too tight that they cause blisters or pain. Of course, loose footwear can lead to foot and ankle injuries, so it’s always a good idea to talk to your Boise foot doctor about finding properly fitted footwear for your winter sport of choice. We may provide orthotics made specifically for ski boots.

Don’t Forget to Stretch

No, we aren’t talking about yoga; we are talking about simple dynamic stretching. Before you participate in any winter sports, you’ll want to go through a series of dynamic stretches like leg kicks and jump squats that actively move the muscles and get them warmed up. Warm, ready-to-go-muscles are less likely to result in tears or other injuries.

Protect Your Toes

Just as you would wear mittens or gloves to protect your fingers from the cold, you should also protect your toes from getting cold while hitting the slopes. To prevent frostbite be sure to wear layers and properly fitting boots. You should also take breaks to warm your feet back up. Boots should be snug enough that snow can’t get inside since wet socks can increase your chances of frostbite. Signs of frostbite include numbness, cold skin and a prickling feeling. You should visit your Boise podiatrist if your skin blisters, is numb or becomes white or pale, as well as if there is pain and swelling in your toes.

Visit Us

If you are dealing with any foot issues like bunions or heel pain, it’s important that you seek out one of our Boise foot specialists before you participate in any winter sports this season. We will want to make sure that you get the treatment you need so that your foot issues don’t get worse.

Whether you want to find out if orthotics are right for you or if you need proper medical care, the foot experts at Idaho Foot & Ankle Associates in Boise, ID have you covered. Don’t let foot problems bench you during this fantastic season for fun, winter sports.