Winter Sports and Foot Protection 

Winter is a time to be active in sporting activities.  When participating in winter activities such as hockey and ice skating, it is important that your footwear is fitted properly. With everyday shoes, it is suggested to have some extra room, but when wearing ice skates, it’s important that the boots are fitted snugly.  The toes should just slightly touch the toe cap of the boot.  Often, skate sizes are about 1 to 1.5 sizes smaller than a regular shoe size.  Some skaters prefer to go barefoot in their skates because they feel it gives them a “better feel” on the ice. However, this is generally not recommended — especially when using rental skates.  This is poor hygiene and could lead to athlete’s foot, fungal toenails, and even warts.   Wearing socks helps protect the feet from friction inside the boot, reducing the risk of blisters, corns, calluses, and sores. For those seeking a closer, more responsive feel while still protecting their feet, thin socks or compression stockings that wick away moisture such as a cotton sock can be a comfortable and practical alternative. Skating can be a fun sport, but it can be exhausting, especially for our feet. When wearing skates, our feet are balancing and gliding on a narrow blade, and the muscles in our feet can become stressed and fatigued, causing pain.  Custom orthotics can be made to help prevent fatigue and support the foot. See your local podiatrist if you are having foot pain.