Your Feet on Vacation: The Aches and Pains Can Add Up

When thinking about travel, foot care is usually the last thing on your mind, but it quickly becomes a concern if you suffer pain or injury during your trip. Traveling quickly puts a strain on the untrained foot, and no one wants to walk around the best spot on earth with aching feet.

I've visited a number of places in my life, and although I like to think I'm fairly fit my feet can begin aching within hours of arriving at a new destination. Here are a few things that have helped me stay upright and pain-free during my trips.

Rule number one is to pack a pair of comfortable (and I do mean comfortable) walking shoes. This may sounds like common sense, and it is, but it's easy to forget in the rush to pack. Comfortable shoes are necessary when spending any amount of time on your feet, especially for walking tours. They're also good for helping people with foot pain or other issues and can help prevent blistering. Do not, and I emphasize "not", wear shoes that have not been broken in. Either bring shoes you've had for a while, or buy a new pair and break them in before your trip. If you've tried breaking them in and they still hurt, that pain won't disappear on your vacation. Always be aware of how strenuous your planned activity will be and choose your shoes accordingly.

Also, comfortable shoes with support for your arch help prevent aching feet, a common troublemaker that dampens the enjoyment of your itinerary-especially walking or hiking. Check your pharmacy for foot products that can help give your arch extra support during more strenuous activities, giving you more time on your vacation to enjoy yourself.

Have bunions, callouses or other foot issues? A quick pre-vacation trip to the podiatrist is in order to make sure there are no lurking problems that might pop up. You may want to alleviate the pain by getting some cushions from Dr. Scholl or a similar brand. cushion treatments to protect feet while on vacation. Blisters are a common injury while traveling. Avoid future vacation mishaps by planning ahead. Also, don't buy shoes just because they "look cute". Unless the only walking you'll be doing is on a runway, your focus should be on comfort, not looks. Wear shoes that will allow ease of movement

Treating your feet every night with a soak specifically designed to ease aches and pains will help to remove the wear and tear of the day's explorations. It also helps to cleanse and moisturize your feet, soften your callouses and ease corns and bunions to assist in rejuvenating and preparing you for another day of walking or hiking. Exfoliating your feet can rid you of the dead skin that builds up and invigorate the new skin underneath, just don't overdo it and rub your skin raw, or you'll end up with foot pain either way.

A little pre-emptive care and a few minutes each night during your trip will help you get through any walking tour or hiking trip.