Cold Weather can be Hazardous to your Feet

The Olympics are one of sport's greatest events. This year's games in Vancouver have been no exception. The remarkable display of athleticsim can be easily overshadowed by their ability to make it look so easy. But if you take a minute to stop and notice that skiers are flying down the mountain at 90 mph, or landing long jumps with a force greater than six times their body weight, you can really appreciate the limits they are pushing the human body. To top it all off, they can do this in the cold weather.

Why does the cold weather change how the bodies act? Whenever it's cold outside your body wants to keep blood warm. So it constricts blood vessels in your extremities, like the feet, and sends blood towards your vital internal organs. This is why you are more likely to get a condition known as frostbite in your fingers and toes instead of your chest. If this goes on for too long, extremities like your toes cannot survive without blood flow and can suffer permanent damage.

So how do Olympians get around this? They wear thick socks to keep their feet as warm as possible. However some Winter Olympic sports aren't the most accomodating with their footwear. It may be hard to wear thick socks in tight-fitting speed skates. Or it may be difficult to keep your socks from sliding around in bulky ski boots. But remember it's imperative to find socks that are moisture-wicking to keep your feet dry and your socks in place. The smallest wrinkle can lead to a nasty blister.

Whether it's skiing, speed skating, or hockey, all the Olympians (okay, may be not the curling team) are putting their feet through a remarkable amount of pressure. From a podiatry point of view, it's amazing to see how their bodies endure the intense physical demands asked of them. Remember that your Podiatrist is trained to treat all of these issues and more, regardless if you're an Olympic medalist or the weekend warrior.