As the colder months set in, we often see an increase in winter-related foot concerns, from stiff joints and chilblains to dry, cracked skin.
Some of our podiatrists have put together a series of helpful blogs to guide you through the most common winter foot issues and how to manage them.
Be sure to check them out below for practical tips to keep your feet healthy, comfortable, and supported this season.
Winter Foot Care Tips
Preventing Dry Skin & Cracked Heels
Dry skin is a common complaint during winter - for good reason. Colder weather, lower humidity, and indoor heating can all reduce moisture in the skin, disrupting the skin barrier and making it more prone to dryness, flaking, and cracking. The heels are particularly vulnerable due to the pressure and friction they experience with walking and standing.
To help manage dry skin, regular moisturising is key. Creams containing 10–25% urea are recommended, as urea helps draw moisture into the skin. For more severe cracking, thicker emollients or lanolin-based preparations provide additional barrier protection. Applying at night and wearing cotton socks can help improve absorption.
Try to avoid prolonged soaking or very hot showers, as these can strip the skin of its natural oils. Wearing warm, breathable socks such as merino wool or bamboo blends can also help maintain warmth while reducing moisture build-up. If dryness progresses to painful cracking or other concerns, seek podiatry advice.
Kellie Kalan
Choosing The Right Football Boots This Winter
Comfort, Performance & Injury Prevention
William Henneken
Winter and Joint Health
Managing Arthritis in Winter
As temperatures drop, the synovial fluid in our joints can become thicker and less effective at lubricating movement, often leading to increased stiffness, discomfort, and pain. This is why many people notice their arthritis symptoms worsening during the colder months. To help manage these symptoms, it is important to stay warm and keep active, as regular movement helps maintain joint mobility and keeps the synovial fluid circulating more effectively. Low-impact activities such as walking, swimming, cycling, or gentle stretching can all be beneficial.
For foot-specific arthritis, we often recommend soaking the feet in a warm foot bath with Epsom salts (magnesium sulfate), which may help relax muscles and soothe aching joints. Wearing supportive, well-fitting footwear is also essential, as it can reduce pressure on painful joints and improve comfort throughout the day. In many cases, customised orthotics can provide additional support, redistribute pressure away from affected areas, and help improve overall foot function, making daily activities more comfortable and manageable.
Thomas Hall
Keeping Netballers Moving This Winter
Community Outreach
Netball is a high-impact sport that places considerable stress on the feet and lower limbs. Rapid changes in direction, sudden stops, jumping, and landing all increase the demands placed on the feet and ankles. As a result, netball players are more susceptible to a range of foot and ankle injuries. Proper footwear, regular foot assessments, and good foot care habits play an important role in preventing injuries and keeping athletes performing at their best.
Some of the most common foot and ankle conditions seen in netball players include ankle sprains, Achilles tendinopathy, plantar fasciitis, and various skin concerns such as blisters and friction-related injuries.
On Saturday, 23 May, Queensland Foot Centres attended the Metropolitan Districts Netball Association courts as part of our ongoing commitment to community podiatry outreach. I was on-site to provide advice and education to players, parents, and spectators about foot health, injury prevention, and lower limb care.
A promotional stall was set up at the venue, giving attendees the opportunity to discuss foot and ankle concerns directly with a podiatrist. Visitors also received a range of promotional items, including lolly bags, drink bottles, and pens. To add to the excitement, attendees could enter a free prize draw via a QR code, with the prize pack featuring a backpack, netball, drink bottle, sports tape, strapping scissors, and strapping tape.
The event was a great success, with many players and parents stopping by to learn more about podiatry services and gain practical advice on managing lower limb conditions and sporting injuries.
Queensland Foot Centres looks forward to continuing to support local sporting communities and hopes to attend more sporting events with similar pop-up stalls in the future.
Janet Burns
Why Weekend Exercise in Winter Can Lead to Foot and Leg Pain in South East Queensland
How inconsistent weekly activity and sudden weekend load spikes increase strain on muscles, tendons, and fascia
South East Queensland winters are ideal for getting active, with mild temperatures that make weekends perfect for sport, running, hiking, and long walks. The issue is that many people do less during the week, then cram a full week’s exercise into one or two days.
From a clinical perspective, this creates repeated load spikes that exceed the capacity of tendons, muscles, and fascia to adapt in real time. These tissues rely on gradual, consistent loading to maintain tolerance, and when demand suddenly increases they are forced to work beyond current conditioning. The result is strain and disruption, and when recovery time is limited—or another spike follows too soon—overload accumulates week to week.
A good warm-up of 5–6 minutes, followed by a 2-3 minute cool-down before running, is a simple way to reduce injury risk. If weekday training is not realistic, even gentle walking and stretching across the rest of the weekend can help. Replacing energy stores after exercise is also important, so a simple carbohydrate snack within about 30 minutes can support recovery and restore glycogen.
This cycle of inconsistency often means the body never fully catches up, which is when pain, stiffness, and recurring niggles tend to develop. Consistency across the week acts as the bridge that allows recovery and adaptation rather than repeated overload.
Mitchell Brown
Winter Boots and Foot Health: Choosing the Right Footwear This Season
How winter boots can affect foot mechanics, cause common foot problems, and what to look for when choosing supportive footwear
The Cold is here! And so begins the wardrobe switch from summer sandals to winter boots. While boots provide warmth and support, your feet may not be as comfortable as you think.
Many boots limit ankle movement, which can alter your walking pattern and place extra strain on muscles and joints further up the leg. Narrow and shallow toe boxes are another common problem, crowding the toes and increasing the risk of corns, calluses, irritation, rubbing, blistering and ingrown toenails.
Heavier footwear and elevated heels can also increase pressure through the forefoot, leading to discomfort under the ball of the foot and aggravating conditions such as bursitis, neuromas, or forefoot pain. They can also cause issues like bunions and claw toes if ill fitting shoes are worn consistently.
When choosing winter footwear, look for boots with adequate toe room, good cushioning, a low square heel or even a wedged heel and flexibility around the ankle. If your feet are feeling the effects of boot season, a podiatry assessment can help keep you comfortable and active throughout the cooler months.
Lydia Cunnington
Indoor Habits That May Be Causing Foot Pain
How indoor habits like barefoot walking, soft slippers, and prolonged sitting can increase foot and lower limb strain during winter
As winter sets in, we tend to spend more time indoors due to shorter daylight hours and cooler temperatures. For some of us with ongoing pain or injuries, this can cause a deterioration in progress due to a couple of factors. Firstly, being indoors typically means bare feet or soft slippers. Unfortunately for foot and lower limb pain, this is a bad deal as it translates as more stress and fatigue in the lower limb. Furthermore, long hours sitting at a desk, for you at home workers, can increase hamstring and calf tightness, which can further reduce recovery periods.
It’s an easy fix. Simply have a designated indoor shoe for any long periods of standing, or even consider a structured slide or sandal like Archies or Fit flops. Alternatively, if you have orthotics, they can easily be fitted to shoes or suitable slippers such as Scholl or Dr Comfort. As for sitting at a desk, try extend your legs out periodically or rotate between a sitting and standing desk. Another point to consider is how your feet sit on the ground-for example, ball of foot pain can be irritated by toe extension/pads of feet taking all your weight.
Follow these simple rules and get back to pain-free movement as soon as possible. Don’t hesitate to reach out to our team if you have any ongoing issues for a more specific plan to suit your unique lifestyle.
Jamie Walker
Children's Feet in Winter: Are Their Shoes Still the Right Fit?
Growing feet, busy school days, and winter sports can all impact foot health. Find out how to identify common problems early and when to seek professional advice
As winter arrives, children spend long days in school shoes and sports footwear. While cooler weather often means feet are covered up, winter is actually an important time for parents to keep an eye on their child's foot health.
Children's feet can grow surprisingly quickly, particularly during growth spurts. Shoes that fitted well at the beginning of the school year may no longer provide enough room. Footwear that is too tight can lead to discomfort, blisters, ingrown toenails, and even changes in the way a child walks.
A simple way to check whether shoes still fit properly is to ensure there is approximately a thumb's width of space between the longest toe and the end of the shoe.
Growth spurts can also place additional stress on developing bones, muscles, and tendons. During these periods, parents may notice their child becoming more clumsy, complaining of tired legs, or experiencing aches and pains after physical activity. While some of these symptoms can be a normal part of growth, there are several signs that should not be ignored, including:
- Limping or changes in walking patterns
- Frequent tripping or falling
- Persistent heel or foot pain that limits participation in activities
Early assessment and intervention can help prevent minor concerns from developing into ongoing problems. Monitoring your child's foot health and ensuring their footwear fits correctly can help keep them active, comfortable, and enjoying all that winter has to offer.
If your child is experiencing foot pain or discomfort, consider booking a podiatry assessment for a professional evaluation and tailored advice.
Elliot Miller
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