5 Things You can do to take care of your feet this CHRISTMAS

As we approach the festive season, our thoughts turn to the inevitable gift buying and grocery shopping that has become synonymous with Christmas now days. But as we all know, these days will fade as quickly as they have come around and the new year resolutions will start. And hopefully the new year will be full of health and happiness for you all. 

However over the festive season these are 5 things that you can do to take care of your feet. Remember Healthy feet can lead to a Healthy Life. 

For our older family members remember ! 

1. Mobility and Social Interactions - Whats a healthy life without getting out and enjoying our loved ones, and Christmas is a great time for our loved ones. But make sure that you plan ahead. Plan where to park the car and what mobility aids you will use if any. Often using a walking stick or a wheelie walker can make the user feel some degree of burden - you know moving presents around in the boot to make way for the walking frame! Appropriate use of these and the planning will reduce the likelihood of a nasty fall.  
2. HOT WEATHER - We don’t have chestnuts roasting on open fires - we have backyard cricket and BBQ’s. So stay hydrated (with water as well) - this is good for our general health but also helps with skin health and keeping us active - Not as much weight on over festive season and the new years resolutions won’t seem so Difficult. 
3. Moisturise your skin - We all know that for most of us (and this doesn’t include our HIGH RISK PATIENTS) Thongs and open footwear are the required footwear in Australia for backyard cricket. So moisturise the skin and keep it healthy, after all it is the largest organ in our body and needs a little T.L.C.
4. Appropriate footwear - See while we joke about thongs and backyard cricket, the injuries that we see to feet and ankles can be life altering for a significant period of time. An ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure. SO wear appropriate footwear for the activity you are about to perform. Like cooking lunch for 25 people and carving large roasts with even larger knives. Wear closed in footwear and avoid those inevitable Christmas injuries. 
5. Here come the thongs - Wear them at the Pool and the Motels - Wherever you are entering a communal area, especially humid wet surfaces are great for harbouring Wart Viruses and Bacteria - so wear your thongs in the shower and be careful of slip risks on some surfaces. 

Follow these simple steps and enjoy this wonderful time with your family have a safe and Merry Christmas. For more information on these points; follow the link to our blog. 

Merry Christmas and a safe and happy new year. 
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Clinton Abel 

Clinton is the Foot + Ankle Clinics Clinical Director and has been a podiatrist in the Ipswich and Lockyer Valley region for over 14 years.