Groundhog's Day Predictions

I know everyone in Findlay, Ohio is awaiting news from far-away Punxsutawney Phil, who lives in Pennsylvania. The tradition of this furry weatherman predicting how the rest of our winter will play out is over 120 years old. And how did Phil call it this year? The groundhog saw his shadow, which according to tradition, means that we will have six more weeks of winter.

This probably doesn't seem like good news to everyone, as we have already seen our share of snow, ice, and very cold temperatures. Perhaps you are a little tired of winter weather? You can make the winter seem a little shorter than the six more weeks predicted by remembering our best winter tips for winter foot health.

1. Remember to take care of your skin. Winter weather is hard on all your skin, and you are probably using more moisturizers and lip balms at this time of year. Don't neglect the skin on your feet. You should reduce the size of calluses on your feet with at home or professional treatments since large calluses can crack, causing discomfort or pain and making your feet susceptible to bacterial, viral, and fungal infections. You should also moisturize your feet to keep the skin healthy. When you get out of the shower is often the best time since the pores in your skin are open from the heat. Just remember not to moisturize the skin between your toes.

2. Protect your feet and ankles from trauma with the correct footwear. Snow boots which provide good traction are a must for winter weather. They will help prevent falls which can lead to foot and ankle injuries. They should also be waterproof to protect your feet. When feet are wet, they are more susceptible to fungal infections which cause conditions like fungal nails and athlete's foot.

3. Get your feet moving. Many people gain weight during the winter, between food-heavy holidays and less time spend outdoors. Remember that weight gain can cause a laundry list of problems in your feet, not to mention the rest of your body. Cutting a little excess weight can improve you over-all and foot health dramatically. Don't forget to wear the appropriate foot wear for the activities you participate in. And don't forget that you can be active outdoors in the winter with lots of activities like ice skating, sledding, skiing, snowboarding, hiking, and many others. Bundle up and brave the cold!

4. See your podiatrist. Winter is a great time to take care of foot ailments. Conditions like fungal nails often take a little time to improve cosmetically. Seeing your podiatrist during the winter means that you may see vast improvements before sandal/flip-flop/beach season. Winter is also a good time to schedule any surgeries you may need before missing out on the increased activity level that spring and summer bring with their arrival. It is easier for many people to be off of their feet during the winter than during the spring, summer or fall. You are also more likely to be in supportive and protective closed toed shoes during the winter, aiding in the healing of any foot ailments.

You may be sceptical as to the accuracy of everyone's favorite fuzzy weatherman's predictions. But you can make your winter a little easier on your feet with these tips. And never hesitate to contact our office. We like to hear from our patients and are here to help you with any problems you may have!