As podiatrists, we at Your Next Step know that Saint Patrick’s Day celebrations can take a toll on your feet. From hours of standing and dancing to navigating crowded streets in less-than-ideal footwear, your feet may be feeling the aftermath throughout this week. However, we’ve got you covered in today’s timely article on how to make your feet feel better.

How Saint Patrick’s Day Could Have Impacted Your Feet

Saint Patrick’s Day celebrations often involve a lot of walking, standing, and dancing, all of which can exacerbate existing foot conditions or lead to new ones. Yet, between all the parades, bar hopping, and city exploring, nobody really expects how strenuous the day turns out to be.

So, if you went out to celebrate, you probably stood for a prolonged period (and maybe even did a jig or two). This could have led to fatigue, swelling, and pain in the feet and ankles, especially if you have flat feet or poor circulation.

If you wore high heels, dress shoes, or even worn-out sneakers, this could have led to blisters, calluses, and pain in the balls of the feet. Navigating crowds could have also increased the risk of stubbed toes and twisted ankles.

Overall, if you usually are sedentary and suddenly increased your activity this weekend, you even could have strained certain muscles and tendons in the feet and ankles.

So, now that you’re feeling stiff (and possibly immobile), what should you do?

Treating Your Aching Feet after Saint Patrick’s Day

If your feet are feeling the effects of Saint Patrick’s Day, here are some tips for relief:

• Rest and Elevation: Give your feet a break and elevate them to reduce swelling.
• Ice Therapy: Apply ice packs to your feet for 15-20 minutes at a time, several times a day, to reduce inflammation and pain.
• Soothing Soaks: Soak your feet in warm water with Epsom salts to relax muscles and soothe aches.
• Gentle Stretching: Perform gentle stretches to improve flexibility and reduce stiffness. Focus on stretching your calf muscles, Achilles tendon, and plantar fascia.
• Over-the-Counter Pain Relief: Use over-the-counter pain relievers, such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen, to manage pain and inflammation. Consult with your podiatrist.
• Moisturizing: If you have dry or cracked skin from dancing all day, moisturize your feet thoroughly to prevent further irritation.

And for specific foot blemishes and injuries that may have developed along the way, here’s some targeted relief advice:

If you have blisters, avoid popping them. Instead, cover them with a bandage or blister pad to prevent infection and allow them to heal.

If you suspect an ankle sprain, follow the RICE protocol (Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation) and consult a doctor if the pain is severe or persistent.

And if you have calluses or corns that are causing pain, do not attempt to remove them yourself!

Dr. Eric Ricefield, Dr. Mark Yagodich, Dr. Aliza V. Eisen, and Dr. Cassandra Stache are happy to solve your foot and ankle problems. Book your appointment and contact us today!