Don’t Let Foot Pain Sideline You This Holiday Season

The holidays often mean more time on your feet than usual and fewer opportunities to rest and recover. Shopping trips, cooking marathons, travel days, and party shoes all cause stress your feet might not be used to.

At Align Foot & Ankle Center in Camarillo, California, board-certified podiatrist Hai-En Peng, DPM, FACFAS, treats holiday-related foot problems regularly. Most of these issues respond well to treatment when you address them early.

Here’s how the holiday season wreaks havoc on your feet and what you can do about it.

Why the holidays are hard on your feet

Even if you’re active year-round, holiday activities put different demands on your feet. Standing in one spot while cooking can be harder on your arches and heels than walking or running, especially if it’s not part of your everyday routine. 

Hard floors in stores and kitchens don’t provide any cushioning, and dress shoes worn to parties alter how your feet move and where pressure lands. These changes can wake up old injuries or create new problems.

Common foot problems during the holiday season

Several foot and ankle problems become more common when the holidays hit, including:

Plantar fasciitis

The tissue running along the bottom of your foot can become inflamed from too much standing or walking. You may feel stabbing heel pain when you first step out of bed in the morning.

Achilles tendonitis

Switching between different shoe styles forces your Achilles tendon to adjust to various heel heights. This leads to pain and tightness in the back of your ankle.

Ankle sprains

Decorations, shopping bags, and extension cords are all tripping risks. One wrong step can leave you with a sprained ankle that makes walking painful for weeks.

Metatarsalgia

Shoes with thin soles or high heels compress the bones in the front of your foot. This causes burning or shooting pain that gets worse the longer you wear them.

Professional treatment options

Dr. Peng examines your foot to discover what’s causing the pain. Getting the diagnosis right from the start saves you from wasting time on treatments that won't help.

Rest, ice, compression, elevation (RICE)

This approach reduces inflammation and pain for most acute injuries. Dr. Peng shows you the proper technique to get the best results.

Custom shoe inserts

Prescription orthotics redistribute pressure away from painful areas. They’re made specifically for your foot structure and how you walk.

Physical therapy

Targeted exercises strengthen the muscles that support your feet and improve flexibility. You'll get a program to do at home between appointments.

Multiwave locked system (MLS) laser therapy

This painless treatment uses specific wavelengths of light to reduce inflammation and speed up tissue repair. Sessions take just a few minutes.

Shockwave therapy

For chronic problems that haven’t responded to other treatments, shockwave therapy is a noninvasive treatment that breaks up scar tissue and promotes new blood vessel growth.

Ways to prevent holiday foot pain

Small changes to your routine can help you avoid problems. These include:

• Wearing comfortable and supportive shoes for shopping and cooking 
• Bringing slip-on shoes in your carry-on for airport security and long flights
• Putting anti-fatigue mats in kitchen prep areas where you'll be standing
• Elevating your legs above your heart can help reduce swelling
• Stretching your toes and rotating your ankles throughout the day to prevent cramping
• Moisturizing your feet daily — dry winter air causes cracked, irritated skin
• Watching your intake of rich foods and alcohol if you’re prone to gout
• Taking sitting breaks during shopping trips to give your feet a rest

These adjustments reduce stress on your feet and give your tissues time to recover between activities.

Resolve foot pain in Camarillo, CA

Addressing foot problems before your holiday schedule gets booked gives your treatment time to work. 

At Align Foot & Ankle Center, Dr. Peng provides comprehensive evaluations and treatment plans that fit your schedule. Contact our Camarillo office today at 805-482-6711 or book online to schedule a consultation.