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This winter season has proven to be anything but a winter wonderland. However, that doesn't mean you should skip protection techniques for your feet and ankles. As the weather gets colder, freezing conditions are upon us. Take steps to minimize the risk to you and your family - beginning with proper footwear. Wear the Right Shoes for the Weather Choose shoes or boots that are specifically designed to provide traction on ice and snow. Rugged soles made of rubber or neoprene composite are a safer bet than those made of smooth leather or plastic. When walking over wet or icy surfaces, shorten your stride, lean forward, and step carefully. What footwear you will be wearing certainly depends on what you will be doing outdoors. If you are going cross-country skiing, look for boots that provide ankle support and perhaps a ski over-boot to provide extra insulation. Yes, high-heeled boots may be fashionable but they are not very practical on slippery surfaces. Shoes or boots with a low heel and traction soles provide a more secure footing. If you need to wear high-heeled shoes, change into them when you arrive at your destination. Beware of Ankle Injuries Ice and snow can be beautiful to the eyes, but can play havoc on our feet and ankles. Ankle injuries increase during the winter months and it is important to have any injury examined to help prevent possible long-term complications from undiagnosed fractures. Protect your ankles from the hidden dangers of ice and snow. Many people mistake ankle fractures for ankle sprains, especially if they are able to walk on the injured foot. The ability to walk on the foot is not a good test to determine a sprain versus a fracture because it is still possible to walk with less-severe injuries. Mistaking an ankle fracture for an ankle sprain can have serious consequences when the foot does not heal correctly. An ankle fracture involves a crack or break in the bones that form the ankle joint while a sprain involves the ligaments that hold the ankle bones together. Both injuries can happen simultaneously when the ankle moves beyond its normal range of motion, but a fracture requires more complex treatment than a sprain. The telltale signs of an ankle fracture include:
* Bruising
* Blisters
* Significant swelling
* Bone protrusion from the skin If you have an undiagnosed fracture, you can have a higher risk of developing infection, arthritis and foot deformities that may make it impossible to walk normally again. Don't let a fall keep you off your feet for too long. Call your podiatrist right away for proper diagnosis and treatment. Keep Your Toes Warm and Protected Against Frostbite Frostbite is a condition that can occur when skin is exposed to extreme cold, resulting in tissue damage and possible tissue loss. Your fingers, toes and areas of commonly exposed skin like the nose and cheeks are at risk for frostbite. In the foot, frostbite typically develops in stages beginning with cold toes that then turn bright red in color. The color in the toes continues to change and darken into purples and blues - eventually turning black, indicating severe frostbite. If you are diabetic, it is especially important for you to check your toes regularly for signs of frostbite this winter. Delaying treatment can result in long-term complications such as chronic ankle instability and pain, arthritis, or deformity. Remember, even if you are able to walk on the injured foot, you may still have a serious injury. Contact your podiatrist in New York City for further diagnosis and treatment to ensure health feet and ankles this winter.
Sean Hartmen writes for leading podiatrist in New York City, Dr. Kenneth Meisler and his team of professional podiatrists. Offering cutting-edge technology such as digital x-rays, diagnostic ultrasound imaging and treatment of heel pain in New York City, Dr. Meisler and his team are committed to providing the best quality podiatric care.
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