5 New Year Foot Problems You Should Spot Early

You’ve survived the holiday madness, but as you settle into the routine of 2026, you might notice your feet are staging a bit of a protest. It’s a common phenomenon: suddenly, a foot that was perfectly fine in December is now throbbing, clicking, or tingling. But in our experience at Goldsmith Podiatry, these pop-up problems rarely happen out of nowhere. Instead, they are usually the result of the sudden shift in our routines that happens every January.

1. The Resolution Stress Fracture

You went from couch potato in December to 5K trainee starting in January. Your heart and lungs might be ready, but your bones haven't caught up. A stress fracture is a tiny, microscopic crack usually in the metatarsals.

  • How to spot it early: Look for localized swelling on the top of your foot and pain that hurts when you’re active but disappears the second you sit down. If you press on one specific spot on the bone and it feels like a lightning bolt, you need to pump the brakes.

2. The Neuroma

Did you get a stylish new pair of narrow winter boots for the holidays? They look great, but if they’re squeezing the front of your foot, you might develop Morton’s Neuroma. This is an inflamed, thickened nerve between your third and fourth toes.

  • How to spot it early: It feels like you have a pebble in your shoe or like your sock is bunched up under your toes, even when you're barefoot.

3. Post-Holiday Plantar Fasciitis

Between standing for hours cooking holiday meals in flat slippers and then suddenly hitting the gym in old sneakers, your arches have been through the wringer. Plantar fasciitis often blooms in January after the cumulative strain finally hits a breaking point.

  • How to spot it early: If your first few steps out of bed in the morning feel like you’re stepping on a sharp tack, but the pain dulls after a few minutes of walking, your fascia may be inflamed.

4. Athlete's Foot

With everyone hitting the gym for their resolutions, communal showers are high-traffic zones. You might have dodged a fungal infection all year, but the January gym rush is prime time for Athlete's Foot.

  • How to spot it early: Look for tiny red dots or scaling between the toes. If it starts to itch or burn after you've been sweating in your sneakers, don't wait for it to peel; come see us.

5. Ingrown Nails

Wait, an ingrown toenail in January? Yep. Between wearing thick, heavy socks and jumping into high-impact workouts, your toes are taking a beating.

  • How to spot it early: If the side of your big toe is slightly swollen, pink, and tender to the touch, you've got a brewing situation.

If you’re looking for more foot care tips, give us a call at (212) 877-1002 so Dr. Howard Goldsmith, Dr. Rosanna Troia, and Dr. Kristina T. Ruff at Goldsmith Podiatry can help guide you in the right direction.

Foot PainWPVFoot Pain, foot problems, foot health, Ingrown toenails, neuroma, stress fractures, Plantar Fasciitis