Cold weather means comfy clothes, sledding, holiday parties, and, for some, body aches. Winter is known to make your ailments more painful and put you at a higher risk for injury. Bone and joint pain are common, especially in your feet and ankles. Let’s take a look at the correlation between wintertime and foot pain! We’ve also provided some helpful tips and tricks for preventing discomfort.

Why Your Feet Hurt

Winter means more slips and falls on slippery snow and ice. But if you don’t have a fresh injury, one of the following reasons likely is to blame for your ongoing foot pain:

When our feet are bundled up with thick socks and boots, we’re likely to sweat. If we’re not wearing protective shoes, it’s not uncommon for snow to soak through and lead to wet socks. This is a perfect environment for fungal conditions like Athlete’s foot to grow.
Bitter temperatures lead to lowered blood circulation to our hands and feet. Arthritis is more likely to flare during the winter because of this.
Cold weather can dry out your skin and nails, which weakens them. Keep an eye out for dry, cracked heels as winter progresses.
When we get cold, our tissues and muscles tighten, which can pull on our nerve endings, resulting in joint pain.
Ill-fitting shoes are one of the biggest reasons why we have foot pain. Bunions, hammertoes, and blisters can come from wearing shoes that are too tight.

Protecting Your Feet

You don’t have to be in pain forever! Find relief with these top tips:

Make sure your shoes fit well and insulated enough to keep snow out
Wear proper footwear and gear for your winter activities, like snowboarding
Staying active can keep your blood circulating healthily
Layer up with thick socks
Avoid fungal infections by changing out of wet socks and shoes

Taking care of your feet and managing your pain is crucial. At Advanced Foot Care of NJ, LLC, Dr. Anant Joshi and his staff treat a range of conditions and are committed to providing results. To schedule an appointment, contact his office in Woodland Park, NJ, at 973-256-000