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A Vacation is No Day at the Beach for Your Feet

By Dr Christopher Segler

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Published: 06Jun2009
Word count: 982
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With the recent arrival of Memorial Day, summer is here at last. Time for vacations in the warm sunshine. Keep in mind whenever you go on vacation, it may be no day at the beach for your feet. There are a number of foot injuries that occur when you go on vacation in the summertime. Many of these injuries stem from what should be a relaxing time. With a few simple precautions and an understanding of the conditions that cause the most trouble, you can avoid unnecessary suffering.

In planning their trips, vacationers start thinking about their new outfits and ways to enjoy the outdoors. Often times, this means fashionable but flimsy unsupportive footwear. Even if it is cute, it may not be adequate to support your feet when walking long distances. Many people don't seem to realize this.

Many people walk more when they're on vacation than when at home. There are sights to see and things to do. You wander and stroll about enjoying your trip, but racking up the miles. You must wear supported shoes.

Wearing flip flops that are flimsy and have no heel on them can lead to heel pain known as plantar fasciitis. This is the most common condition treated by podiatrists in the United States. Up to 40% of all Americans will develop heel pain caused by plantar fascitis at some point during their lives. Most of them first experience sharp heel pain when they get up and step out of bed. Many will also develop an aching pain throughout the arch. This is a minor problem, but can be very difficult to get rid of without treatment.

However, it is very easy to prevent by stretching your feet in the morning. Place a towel over the ball of the foot and pull your toes toward your nose while keeping your knee straight. Make sure you wear athletic shoes during the bulk of your walking and you can avoid this problem.

Disneyland is no place for flip-flops. Amusement parks are very big and require a great deal of walking to enjoy all the rides. Make sure you take care of your feet. In addition to causing heel pain, flip-flops can also lead to another very common injury which most people don't think about until it?s too late. When wearing sandals or flip-flops make sure you put sun block on the tops of your feet. The skin on your feet is hidden from sunlight for most of the year. Once they are suddenly bathed in sunshine they can be easily burned. This can ruin your vacation.

If you get a bad sunburn on the tops of your feet, not only will sandal straps cause irritation, but you might even find it difficult to wear other shoes or even socks. You can find yourself stuck in a hotel room instead of enjoying all of the activities you?d planned. Don't let sunburned feet ruin your itinerary.

You also need to be very careful when going barefoot. Most people can't wait to get their toes in the sand, but keep in mind that all sorts of debris washes up on the beach or gets dropped by passersby. Not only is it possible to step on a sharp object or piece of glass, but simply walking on sand can prove a tremendous workout for the feet.

If you overdo it and spend a great deal of time walking back-and-forth on the beach barefoot looking for seashells, your feet will be incredibly sore the next day. The small muscles on the inside of the feet that help to stabilize all the joints become very tired and sore when overworked. This can make your feet so sore that it is difficult to enjoy the rest of your vacation. If you know you'll be walking on the beach, spend some of that time wearing supportive athletic shoes.

Airports can also be an unrecognized source of foot problems. High Security is a fact of modern day travel. This, of course, is necessary for the safety and well-being of everyone traveling on a commercial aircraft. The danger comes in when you take off your shoes and sock, and walk through the airport screening line. You don't have to stand in line at a major airport for very long to realize that there are thousands of people every day walking barefoot through the airport.

Imagine how many of those people who have foot infections such as athlete?s foot, fungal toenails, or bacterial and viral diseases. These little bugs can remain dormant for long periods of time in the carpet at the airport screening lines. It is easy to catch one of these diseases, just by walking barefoot in the same place that they had been standing in the airport security line.

There are some simple steps you can take to prevent this. The simplest precaution is to wear shoes that don't require removal in the security line. Keep in mind that all boots and big bulky athletic shoes will certainly require removal. If you wear very thin flip flops or sandals with a thin heel, the Transportation Security Administration officer may not require you to remove your shoes at all. This is the best option.

There are other options as well. I have seen people in line at the security counters, place shower caps over their sock feet in order to walk through the line and not become contaminated. There are also commercially available disposable slippers that you can carry in your pocket and put on when you remove your shoes. Any of these measures will protect you from bacteria, fungus, and viral infections.

By just taking a few simple actions to protect yourself and keep your feet in good shape, you can enjoy your vacation and not worry about any risk of foot injury. Have a great trip and enjoy the sunshine safely.

Dr. Christopher Segler is an author, inventor and award winning foot surgeon. He invented and patented a surgical instrument that simplifies bunion surgery. He publishes articles and teaches other surgeons about his unique methods to decrease pain after foot surgery. He only treats patients who place a tremendous value on health. He does not accept any insurance. You can learn more about common causes of foot pain at http://www.anklecenter.com.

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