Foot pain affects up to 36% of the general population — but it doesn’t have to be part of your holiday tradition.
Jason Armstrong, DPM, a dual board-certified podiatrist and foot and ankle surgeon practicing in Shenandoah and Humble, Texas, can identify the cause of your foot and/or ankle pain and show you how to eliminate it.
Here are five simple ways to keep your feet healthy and ready for your holiday festivities.
When it comes to keeping your feet pain-free, you’ll need to pay attention to what puts stress on them. Here’s what can increase the risk of holiday foot pain:
Finding the root cause of your pain is critical to eliminating foot pain during the holiday season and beyond.
Taking proactive steps can prevent foot pain before it starts. These five tips can help you avoid seasonal foot discomfort:
Avoid high heels and shoes that are too tight, rigid, uncomfortable, or make you feel unstable. Choose well-fitted, supportive footwear with a low heel, nonslip padded soles, and excellent arch support. Use orthotic inserts as directed by Dr. Armstrong for added cushioning when needed. Consider choosing footwear with a seal of acceptance and seal of approval.
While walking helps you stay fit and avoid unwanted holiday weight gain, staying on your feet continuously without breaks can lead to foot pain. If you feel foot fatigue or discomfort setting in, take a short break. Elevate your feet and legs periodically to minimize swelling after a long day of shopping.
Ask for a foot massage, see a masseuse, purchase an electric foot massager, or massage your own feet now and then to avoid holiday foot pain this season. This stimulates blood flow, eases muscle tension, reduces discomfort, enhances overall foot health, and even relieves stress.
Follow Dr. Armstrong’s guidance for stretching and strengthening exercises to address an injury, disease, or age-related wear.
Toenail fungus, ingrown toenails, infections, and other nail problems often cause foot pain in children and adults. Take good care of your nails by trimming them regularly and straight across, keeping your feet moisturized, attending to your cuticles, and seeking treatment immediately for infections, discoloration, or pain to avoid complications.
If you struggle with plantar fasciitis, neuropathy, nonhealing wounds, corns, bunions, sprains, or other common foot and/or ankle concerns, see Dr. Armstrong for routine monitoring. He offers wound and fracture care, orthotics, medications, injections, surgery, and other solutions that treat common foot and ankle problems, keeping your lower limbs healthy and pain-free.
Visit with Dr. Armstrong if you experience pain, decreased joint range of motion, swelling, stiffness, instability, weakness, or mobility problems due to a foot injury, disease, or age-related wear. Signs of a potential problem include numbing, tingling, burning, bruising, redness, warmth, and ongoing or extreme discomfort.
Call our office with questions or schedule a podiatry evaluation today with Jason Armstrong, DPM, to keep your feet pain-free this holiday season. You can also book an appointment online.