Whether you’re heading out to Six Flags Great Adventure for a day of family fun, or planning a visit to some other great water and amusement parks this summer, now’s the time to start making a safety plan—for your feet! You see, a day of rides, sun and fun could leave you with sore feet after theme park visits. So, to keep your feet happy through all the ups, downs twists and turns of a day at an amusement park, follow these tips from Massapequa podiatrists Dr. Mark Gasparini and Dr. Novneet Chhabra.
Why You Get Sore Feet After Theme Park Visits ![man riding rollercoaster]()
Theme parks are designed for fun…but not for foot health and happiness. You see, the only way to pack in as many rides as possible is to walk. For hours and miles, often while wearing shoes that aren’t designed for exercise. Add in the hours you’ll spend standing in line, and the combination can leave you with swollen, tired and sore feet after a day at the amusement park.
But that’s not the only hazard your feet have to worry about during a day at the parks. In summer, especially, water parks are a popular destination. And, because you can’t wear shoes on the slides, many people leave their shoes in the park’s cubbies and choose to walk—barefoot—between each water ride. Sadly, this is a major no-no for your feet. First of all, in the thick of summer, the concrete surfaces you’ll walk on could get very hot in the sun—in fact, they could be hot enough to burn the delicate skin on the soles of your feet! But even if you avoid this hazard, walking barefoot on wet, public surfaces dramatically increases your risk for plantar warts and athlete’s foot—two problems that will leave you with sore or uncomfortable feet for many days following your theme park visit.
How to Protect Your Feet at an Amusement Park: 5 Helpful Tips
We don’t want you to get sore feet after theme park visits. So we want you to follow these simple steps, designed to protect your feet while you take in all the rides and attractions!
- Train for your trip. Before you head to the parks, gradually build up your daily walking distances, allowing your feet to gradually adjust to the challenge of traversing a giant theme park, and helping prevent foot pain at the end of the day on your actual visit.
- Pack appropriately. Supportive footwear, such as sneakers, are the right choice for a day at a theme park.
- Break them in. If you’re buying new shoes before visiting an amusement park wear them at home a few times before the big day. That way you can detect any spots where they might rub your feet, planning accordingly to prevent blisters.
- Bring a spare pair. If you’re spending several days at the Disney or Universal theme parks in Orlando, be sure and pack more than one pair of supportive shoes so you don’t wear the same sneakers two days in a row. This is important since your feet will sweat in that hot, humid weather—by allowing your shoes 24 hours to dry before wearing them again, you can reduce the risk for developing foot odor and even fungal foot infections.
- Consider water shoes. Heading to a water park? Think about investing in waterproof sneakers that can stay on your feet in the pool, on water slides and, most importantly, when walking between attractions. This small investment could save you from a world of painful heat burns, warts and even sunburns by covering and protecting the delicate skin on the tops and bottoms of your feet. Just remember that these water shoes don’t offer as much support as regular sneakers, so you should switch back to regular shoes once you’re done with attractions that get you wet.
Healing Sore Feet After a Day at the Theme Park
After a day of rides and fun in the sun, try these 4 moves to help relieve minor pain and swelling in your feet:
- Soak those feet in a pool or in a bath tub with cool water. If you choose the latter, you can add Epsom salts to the tub for some extra soothing.
- Roll your arches on a pencil or, if available, a frozen water bottle to relieve any built-up tension from spending hours on your feet.
- Massage your feet—or book a service with a pro—to really relieve pain and fatigue.
- Cover any blisters to reduce pain and rubbing, but avoid bursting the protective bubble, as this will increase your risk for infection.
Not able to relieve those sore feet after theme park visits on your own? We’re here to help! If you’ve paid a visit to an amusement park this summer, and your feet are still achy after a few days, call our office at 516-804-9038 or follow this link to request an appointment. When you come see our podiatrists in Nassau County, we’ll figure out what’s causing your foot pain and come up with a customized treatment plan so you can enjoy the rest of your summer!