Aging Gracefully and with Great Health

Tips For Preventing Sore Feet On A Vacation

12 May 2016 by For Content

When you're getting ready for a sightseeing trip, it's important to take steps before and during the vacation to ensure that your feet don't get overly sore or irritated. You're likely to spend several hours per day standing and walking, and the last thing you need is to be uncomfortable for part of the trip or even be sore enough that you have to miss out on some activities because of the discomfort! While you can visit your local podiatrist upon arriving home if you've developed any soreness while away, the best plan is to do all you can to reduce the likelihood of foot pain during the trip. Here are some ideas to adopt.

Have Your Footwear Assessed

Before you travel, it's a good idea to schedule a visit with your podiatrist to have him or her take a look at the shoes that you're planning to wear on the trip. Podiatry professionals can assess the shoes against the shape, size and arch of your foot and determine if the shoes will potentially pose problems through long periods of standing and walking. For example, a shoe with minimal arch support might end up leading to arch pain if you have high arches. The podiatrist can then make footwear recommendations so you'll be comfortable on your trip.

Pack A Tennis Ball In Your Suitcase

A simple way to relieve sore feet at the end of a long day of standing and walking is to massage them with a tennis ball. Even if you're flying and don't want to carry too much luggage, a tennis ball can easily fit into your suitcase. This self-massage technique is easy; you place the tennis ball on the floor and put your bare or socked foot on it. Position the ball so that it's pressed against the arch of your foot and then roll the ball up and down and from left to right. Put enough pressure that you feel a satisfying massage-style feeling but aren't causing pain, and then repeat the process on the other foot.

Avoid Sweaty Feet

Feet that are sweaty and remain in damp socks for long periods of time can put you at risk for athlete's foot. While not overly painful, athlete's foot is often itchy and otherwise uncomfortable, and it can be enough to dampen your trip experience. Place some baby powder in your socks at the start of the day to promote dryness and if your socks are excessively sweaty, consider changing them partway through the day.

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