Prevent Sore Feet After Theme Park Visits with These 5 Tips

Planning a visit to Six Flags Over Georgia this summer? Heading to Disney or a water park for some great family fun? If you don't want to have sore feet after theme park visits, you need to follow these five tips from Powder Springs podiatrist Dr. Alvin Cowans. But first, you need to understand why a day at the parks can be so tough on your feet in the first place. 

Why You Get Sore Feet After Theme Park Visits 

Spending the day walking between and standing on line for rides is hard on your feet. After all, you could walk at least 8 miles in the park, with your only break coming when you stand in line waiting to board or a ride (or the 3 minutes you spend sitting on that ride.) Not wearing sneakers or other supportive footwear? Your day is likely to end with tired feet, plus a lot of heel pain and arch pain. 

Unfortunately, that's not the only hazard you need to worry about. When visiting theme parks in summer, hot and humid weather can cause your feet to swell. So, if you're in shoes that fit snugly, you could be quite uncomfortable at the end of the day. 

And what about water parks, where you're often walking barefoot between rides? Now there are two more reasons you might have some foot problems to worry about: first, on a hot summer day, pavement can get hot enough to burn the soles of your feet. But even if your feet don't get scorched, walking barefoot on all those shared, wet surfaces will dramatically increase your risk for plantar warts. 

5 Foot Safety Tips for Amusement Park Visits

Want to avoid sore feet after theme park days? Here's what you need to do: 

1. Get ready for your visit by walking more beforehand. Just as you need to train for running a marathon with shorter runs beforehand, try gradually increasing your daily walking distances so your feet can adjust to the demands of spending a full day walking around and waiting in line at an amusement park or water park. 
   
   
2. Wear the right shoes. You'll need a pair of supportive sneakers that can absorb shock to reduce the impact on your feet. Just make sure they fit well: if the shoes are too loose, they will rub throughout the day and leave you with blisters. Too tight and your feet will feel squeezed at the end of the day, especially if they've swollen. Want to find that just-right fit? You may need a new pair of shoes for your visit. But don't wear them for the first time on your actual day at the park. Instead, break them in a little before your visit. That way, you'll know if they need any extra padding or adjusting before you have to wear them for a long and challenging day. 
   
   
3. Pack a few pairs. If you're spending multiple days at Disney parks or in the Universal universe, it's worth having at least two pairs of shoes for your visit. This way, you can let shoes dry from any sweating and rebound from the impact of walking for a full 24 hours between wearings. In turn, you'll reduce your risk for both athlete's foot infections and sore feet after theme park visits. 
   
   
4. Don't forget water shoes. If you're visiting a water park, you're going to have to take off your sneakers to ride those slides. But you don't want to go barefoot between attractions. The solution? Waterproof sneakers that you can use to keep your feet covered all day, protecting you from burns and fungal infections, all at the same time! 
   
   
5. Practice self-care. At the end of the day, if your feet are a little achy, don't worry. Whether you're back in your house or staying at a hotel, there are some simple steps you can take to soothe your feet so that a little discomfort doesn't become a chronic concern. 

TLC For Sore Feet After Theme Park 

Once you leave the park, try some or all of these suggestions to help relieve those tired, achy feet: 

Try soaking in a cool pool or tub of bath water. If you're soaking your feet in a tub, you can add some Epsom salts for extra, soothing relief. 

Roll the arches of your feet over a golf ball, frozen water bottle, or even a pencil to help relieve some tension from your plantar fascia. 

Find and cover any blisters carefully. But avoid popping them, since that dramatically increases your risk for infection. 

Give yourself a gentle foot massage, or splurge a little and get a professional service at the hotel spa to really take the pressure off those feet. 

With pre-visit planning and prompt care afterward, you should be able to prevent sore feet after theme park visits. But if you get back from a visit and find your feet still don't feel right a few days later? Don't ignore the problem, hoping that things will get better on their own. Instead, give us a call at 770-727-0614 or follow this link to make an appointment. When you come into the office, Dr. Cowans will diagnose the cause of your foot pain and get you healed in time to enjoy the rest of your summer fun!