DR. HARDY, OWNER OF ACADEMY FOOT AND ORTHOTIC CLINICS SHARES SOME PERSONAL TIPS TO KEEP YOUR FEET WARM AND DRY IN SKATES, SKI BOOTS AND WINTER BOOTS

ONE OF DR. HARDY'S PERSONAL PASSIONS AS WELL AS ALL MEMBERS OF HIS FAMILY IS DOWNHILL SKIING.  WHEN WE HAD THE 2 CONDOS IN WHISTLER, B.C. WE REALLY WERE SPENDING A LOT OF TIME ON THE SLOPES.  THERE IS NOTHING WORSE THAN SUFFERING WITH COLD HANDS AND/OR FEET.  IT COMPLETELY RUINS YOUR DAY, ALTHOUGH IT DOES GIVE YOU AN EXCUSE TO START COCKTAIL HOUR AND HOT-TUBBING EARLIER.  

WHEN I WAS YOUNG WE DID NOT HAVE WHAT ARE KNOWN AS 'HOT SHOTS' WHICH ARE LITTLE PACKETS YOU CAN PUT IN YOUR GLOVES AND SKI BOOTS AND WHEN EXPOSED TO TO THE AIR THERE IS A SLOW CHEMICAL REACTION WHICH CAUSES HEAT TO BE RELEASED FOR UP TO 8 HOURS ARE ARE REALLY GOOD ON COLD DAYS AS WELL AS DRYING ANY MOISTURE THAT MAY BE ACCUMULATING WITHIN YOUR MITTS AND BOOTS.

WATER ABSORBS HEAT 25 TIMES FASTER THAN AIR.  IF YOUR FEET PERSPIRE A LOT, THE ACCUMULATING WATER WILL CONDUCT THE COLD TO YOUR FEET RAPIDLY CAUSING COLD FEET.  THEREFORE ONE OF THE SECRETS IS TO KEEP YOUR FEET AS DRY AS POSSIBLE.  A GENEROUS SQUIRT OF BABY POWDER IS APPLIED EACH MORNING TO OUR BOOTS BEFORE HEADING TO THE SLOPES.  THE POWDER ABSORBS MOISTURE AND KEEPS YOUR FEET SMELLING NICE.  THE CLEANING LADY SOMETIMES GETS ANNOYED AT THE WHITE FOOT PRINTS ON THE CARPET BUT THIS IS EASILY VACUUMED UP.

THE OTHER THING THAT WE DO IS IS USE BOOT DRYERS WHICH ARE LEFT ON ALL NIGHT TO SLOWLY DRY YOUR BOOTS FOR THE NEXT DAY.  THIS ALSO PREVENTS FUNGUS FROM OCCURRING IN THE BOOTS.  YOU MUST BE SURE TO USE A MOISTURIZER ON YOUR SKIN MORNING AND EVENING AS THE POWDER TENDS TO DRY THE SKIN.  THESE TECHNIQUES CAN BE USED FOR ICE SKATES AS WELL AS WINTER BOOTS.

ANOTHER NEW TECHNOLOGY THAT WE ARE BLESSED WITH ARE SYNTHETIC MATERIALS WHICH ARE USED IN SKI SOCKS THAT WICK MOISTURE FROM YOUR SKIN TO THE OUTSIDE OF THE MATERIAL WHICH HELPS YOUR FOOT IN SEVERAL WAYS, BY KEEPING THEM DRY, WARM AND LESS OF A PROBLEM FOR ORGANISMS WHICH REQUIRE MOISTURE TO THRIVE. 

MAKING SURE THAT YOU HAVE A PROPER FIT IN THE BOOTS IS ALSO VERY IMPORTANT AS WELL AS USING CUSTOM ORTHOTICS.  THIS PREVENTS ANY PRESSURE POINTS WHICH COULD RESTRICT BLOOD FLOW ALSO LEADING TO COLD FEET AND DISCOMFORT AS WELL AS REDUCED PERFORMANCE ON THE SLOPES.

IF YOU OR A LOVED ONE REQUIRES HONEST, COMPETENT ADVICE OR FOOT CARE PLEASE DO NOT HESITATE TO CONTACT DR. HARDY, OWNER OF TORONTO FOOT CLINIC, ACADEMY FOOT AND ORTHOTIC CLINICS AT 416-465-8737.  REMEMBER, WE ALWAYS TREAT OUR PATIENTS LIKE FAMILY!