Winter Walking Tips That Can Save Your Feet from Harm
If there’s anything we’ve all learned in the sum of our years, it’s that winter weather can be perilous. Sidewalks and roadways may look safe, but we find out the hard way that they’re really coated in a thin layer of ice. If we’re not careful, we can slip and fall on that ice, causing injuries to knees, heads, feet, and ankles.
Sprained ankles, broken metatarsals in the feet, and a torn Achilles tendon are some common results of falling on ice. If it happens to you, you’re not alone: the CDC estimates that one million people fall and injure themselves each year from slipping on ice.
Here’s how to prevent icy falls:
- Keep outdoor steps, walkways, and driveways clear of ice using sand or de-icing material.
- Choose to walk on non-paved surfaces such as grass – they’re less slippery.
- Avoid walking uphill whenever possible.
- Wear shoes with good traction (avoid throwing on any old shoes to “run” to the mailbox, for example).
- Add spikes to your shoes or boots.
- Walk like a penguin – with toes pointed outward, take small steps and keep your weight slightly forward. It takes longer to get where you’re going, but it’s safer.
- Stay home until the temperatures rise above freezing.
If you’re elderly or pregnant, you’re in a high-risk category. The benefits of staying home when it’s icy outside probably outweigh the risks.
If you do go out and start to fall on snowy, icy, or slippery surfaces, keep your wits about you and try to remember the following:
- Tuck your chin and cross your arms over your chest – it’ll help protect your head and also prevent hand, wrist, and arm injuries.
- Bend your knees – it’ll instantly lessen the distance of your fall.
- Try to fall onto your side.
- If there’s a snowbank nearby, aim for it – it’ll break your fall.
Despite your best efforts, you may join the one million and take a fall on ice or snow. Contact our experienced podiatric surgeons, Dr. Craig B. Frey, Dr. Megan L. Oltmann, Dr. Jim Swienconek, Dr. Rachel Robinson, and Dr. Courtney Yoder for top-notch treatment of foot and ankle injuries. Call Foot & Ankle Associates of Cleveland in Solon, Ohio at (440) 903-1041 or contact us online to schedule a consultation. We offer a modern office with the latest technology for podiatric patients in Portage, Geauga, Cuyahoga, and Summit Counties, proudly serving our patients from Solon, Aurora, Bedford, Chagrin Falls, Hudson, Macedonia, and Twinsburg.
