Summer brings out warm weather hobbies and activities from gardening to hiking. It also is a common time of year for painful foot conditions to arise.
Hot, Hot Feet
As the mercury rises outdoors feet turn up the heat too as they sweat through the 250,000 sweat glands found in each foot. Adults can sweat around half a pint through the feet. Combined with warm conditions this is perfect breading grounds for fungal infections – also known as Athlete’s Foot or tinea pedis (fungus of the foot). To prevent soggy feet follow these tips for moisture control:
- Wear cotton or bamboo socks and change them daily, or twice daily if especially moist
- Wear breathable footwear and allow 24-48 hours between wearing for dry time
- Air dry shoes in natural sunlight
- Sprinkle baking soda or foot powder in sneakers, boots and other enclosed shoes
- Footwear made of non-breathable materials (i.e. flip flops, resin-based shoes) should be cleaned with soapy water regularly
- Reduce time spent in nylon stockings and other synthetic material foot coverings
- Plan to have several comfortable shoes in rotation at any given time
- Thoroughly dry feet after bathing and showering, especially between the toes
- If feet are especially moist, dust with foot powder as needed
Heel Pain
Gardeners and weekend warriors can be caught by surprise with the discomfort of heel pain after a rigorous weekend spent outdoors. Poor fitting shoes can also trigger discomfort in the heel of the foot. Before an intense time out of doors, plans should be made to ease into activities gradually to avoid foot pain from the start:
- Always wear supportive footwear for home improvement projects, gardening and backyard sports
- Ease into gardening and outdoor hobbies gently – try one hour of weeding instead of the whole afternoon
- Stop foot pain before it starts with a foot soak or foot rub after the activity
Once heel pain has set in it can be hard to get rid of. Conditions such as Plantar Fasciitis and Bursitis are caused by inflammation of the heel and commonly require a visit to the foot doctor’s office. To reduce pain and inflammation cold therapy can be used in the form of ice packs, a frozen golf ball rolled by the foot, or a cool foot bath.
Other Foot Discomforts
Long periods of weight-bearing activities can bring on foot cramps, blisters, sesamoiditis (pain in the ball of the foot near the great toe) and more. For those returning to seasonal activities that they have not participated in for some time, moderation is advised. Hikers are encouraged to start their season with shorter hiking trails before venturing out for longer periods of time. Charity walkers may wish to prepare several weeks or months in advance if walking great lengths is not part of their regular exercise routine.
