This winter is certainly a cold one, and these temperatures are taking a toll on people’s feet. First, the combination of cold air outside and forced warm air inside can dry out your skin, raising your risk for cracked and bleeding heels. But that’s not the only way that heel pain in cold weather can get worse. In fact, dropping temperatures can take a toll on your foot health in several ways. So, in today’s post, we’ll review how winter weather can lead to foot pain, sharing tips from your Medford OR podiatrists on how to prevent problems to make it through to Spring without further discomfort!
Why Heel Pain in Cold Weather Get Worse? ![feet standing on icy ground]()
Did you know that cases of plantar fasciitis—a leading cause of heel pain—tend to increase in the winter? It’s true: when the temperatures start dropping, our doctors see more patients come in with heel pain that feels sharp or stabbing, especially first thing in the morning, or after long periods spent sitting. But why does cold weather make heel pain worse?
Well, there are a few different reasons why cold weather and heel pain go together. To begin with, winter footwear is partially to blame. You see, winter boots—from UGGS to Hunters and many in between—tend to provide less arch support than sneakers. So, when you start wearing these boots on a more regular basis, the lack of support can place added stress on your plantar fascia. (That’s the band of connective tissue running along the bottom of your foot, from your heel to your toes.) Under that pressure, inflammation can develop, and the pain of plantar fasciitis will begin to cause disruptions in your day.
But lack of support isn’t the only trouble those winter boots can cause for your feet. In fact, a snugly-fitted boot can reduce the amount of blood flowing to your feet, magnifying the pain of nerve conditions such as neuropathy. And, if you have heel spurs at the back of your foot—bony bumps that form due to pressure on the area—wearing tighter shoes could press against them, causing inflammation and heel pain. As such, you might experience this heel pain for the first time in the winter, when it never bothered you while rocking your favorite summer sandals.
How to Prevent Heel Pain This Winter…And All Year Long
We want you to enjoy all the fun that winter brings our way, from ice skating to skiing and beyond. But you can’t do that if you develop heel pain in cold weather. So this is what you need to do to protect your feet from harm this season.
First, winter is the time to step up your self-care. Make sure to moisturize your feet daily, or even twice a day, if your skin is already dry. This can help protect your skin from cracks, reducing your risk for pain, bleeding and infections.
Next, be careful when selecting your winter footgear. Look for supportive boots with plenty of arch support—this style from Sorel is a much better choice than the ultra-flat (and completely unsupportive) Ugg boots that are seen all over the place in winter.
Now, even with more supportive boots on your feet, you may experience heel pain in your foot gear. And that’s because the shape of your foot may require additional support in order to avoid straining your fascia. As such, we may recommend fitting you for custom orthotic insoles that will fit in your winter boots. These can help compensate for any weaknesses in the structure of your foot, relieving any existing heel pain and preventing it from returning.
When you’re walking around the house—a place we spend more time during winter—you can’t ignore your foot health. Even indoors, you should keep your feet covered with supportive slippers to prevent heel pain from becoming a problem. Already spending less time running around? Why not use that extra down time to work plantar fasciitis stretches into your day, focusing on relieving tension in the toes, feet and calf muscles to keep pressure off your plantar fascia. When performed regularly, these stretches can help prevent heel pain in cold weather, and all year round.
Finding Heel Pain Relief in Medford, OR
In our Southern Oregon podiatry practice, Dr. Evan Merril, Dr. Chase Christensen and Dr. Devin Dimond can provide multiple heel pain treatment options, relieving your discomfort without the need for invasive procedures. From helping you pick better footwear and fitting you for orthotics, to guiding you through rehabilitative stretches and even providing MLS laser therapy for pain relief, they can help you put heel pain in your past.
Of course, many patients don’t worry about heel pain in winter, because they are happy to stay home and rest. However, the pain is unlikely to resolve in time for you to enjoy all your favorite spring activities…unless you seek treatment right now. So reach out today and ask for help. You can call us at 541-776-3338 or contact us online to request an appointment.