I started ice skating and it has been one of the most wonderful experiences yet.
When I first started ice skating, I got a few requests on how to handle arch pain. Initially, I had no idea what it was since I was just used to the roller and inline skating.
Fast forward to now that I am almost a professional ice skater ( I like to tell myself this) I have experienced a few arch pain, found ways to treat it and I thought I’d share my remedies with the skating family.
A lot of people are skating these days; it’s turned into a normal activity people do fun or just to chill out with friends and loved ones. But, if you’re a consistent ice skater, you may likely experience arch pain from skating.
The first time I felt one, I was really scared and paranoid about the whole situation. I thought it was really a big deal and I wouldn’t be able to skate anymore. It made me really sad.
However, after I did my research, talked to a few experts in ice skating, and implemented those remedies, it worked out great for me and although sometimes I experience arch pains, I have firsthand experience on how to handle it. And I would love you to have that too.
If you’re wondering why you are experiencing arch pains, the reason for this is the repetitive stress from skating at the bottom of your feet. It usually occurs from the heel towards the toe. Because of this, you will continually experience pain in your heel and arch.
The first and fastest step to getting rid of arch pains is finding out the cause of the pain in the first place. In this blog post, I’ll be educating you guys on what arch pains are, how to avoid them, and how to get rid of them if you are experiencing them presently.
Ensure that you follow all the necessary steps I will list out for you. READY? Let’s go!
Do ice skates have arch support?
All ice skates offer arch support. This is one of the reasons I dislike going for fairly used ice skates online because I barely know the condition of the skates apart from the description given.
If you have the money, please invest in getting new skates to avoid spending more money on getting parts that should already be in your ice skates.
Naturally, new ice skates always come with arch support. But skaters may prefer to go for more foot support in other to be comfortable while training or skating. If you don’t like the arch support that comes with your ice skates, you can change or add more foot supports to your ice skates.
The first time I experienced arch pains was with my first ice skating boots, when I talked to my local provider about it, he told me the insoles were too thin and didn’t absorb pressure much while I skated. He suggested I go for a thicker insole or better arch support, which I did and that was the beginning of getting rid of the pains.
What could be causing arch pain?
The first thing you want to know is that the arch is a part of the body that functions as a stress and pressure absorber while walking. It is located at the feet and runs from the toe to the heels of your feet.
When something goes wrong with your arch, you begin to feel discomfort while walking or skating.
There are many causes of arch pain but we’ll be treating arch pain caused by skating.
The most common cause of arch pain is the misuse, swelling, or damage of the plantar fascia. The plantar fascia is a tendon in the feet that links your toes with your heels.
While skating without proper arch support, you may injure your arch result in arch injuries that will definitely cause you pains as you continue skating. The inflammatory feeling you get while skating is a sign of arch pain developing.
Microtrauma is also a cause of arch pain. It could be as a result of stress and re-stress of the plantar fascia or possibly minor arthritis (skating with arthritis is not advisable, you may injure yourself severely in the process). When your feet are constantly undergoing stress from skating, microtrauma occurs causing damage to your tendons and tissues in that area.
However, do bear in mind that not all skaters experience arch pain while ice skating. Some coaches do their students the favor of informing them on time to get proper sole support for their skates to avoid getting arch pains.
When should you go see a doctor?
Because of how the pain starts, you may think it’s something else that was the case as mine. It started as minor pain and eventually grew into a really painful ache while skating.
I’ll say that I didn’t see the doctor on time because I thought it was just the usual sprain you might get from skating for hours. With time the pain began affecting my skating schedule, I couldn’t skate for a long time anymore.
I eventually saw a doctor and he told me I came in when the pain became worse. If you’re experiencing arch pains, the best time to see a doctor is immediately you start feeling the pain after careful examination that you don’t have a serious injury at that part of your feet.
You can also see a doctor when the pain starts to affect your daily activities, if that area begins to swell or look deformed if you’re beginning to walk differently if you can’t carry out your normal activities without experiencing pain; it’s best to seek medical help immediately.
Home Remedies
Without getting medical attention, you can also take care of your arch pain by using home remedies.
The very first time you notice arch pain or any form of discomfort in that area, you can make use of ice compression and proper rest.
I know resting may be the last thing in your mind but it is a necessary step to make sure the pain goes away giving your feet time to heal. Because of how bad mine was I had to stop skating for about 3 weeks. The doctors said it will keep me away from applying more stress in that area.
If you’re using the ice compressions, make sure to place it where you feel the pain for a maximum of 25 minutes. It will help seize any pending inflammation or swelling of the affected tissues. This is also a very effective method if done at least three times a day.
Another alternative is getting over-the-counter medication to help with the arch pain. At the hospital, I was prescribed some pain relievers. To be more precise Ibuprofen. However, depending on your previous experience with this medication, you can opt for other pain relievers such as Asprin, Tylenol, naproxen, or whichever suits you best. Ensure that you follow the given prescription and proper dosage of these medications to avoid getting yourself in a fix with your health.
How can you prevent arch pain when ice skating?
There are some steps you can take to prevent arch pain while ice skating. I really wish I knew them before I started my ice skating journey.
- Ensure that you get the correct size of ice skates. I like to tell people to get fitted by a professional boot fitter, this way you’re sure you get the right ice skates and avoid any discomfort you may have experienced.
- Make sure your boots are broken in before your start skating intensely. You can follow the procedure we talked about in our previous blog about breaking in your skates.
- Get an orthotic for your ice skates for more foot support. Get an expert skater to check out the insoles of your skate and tell you if you should have them changed or not.
- Always wear a thin sock while ice skating. Wearing a thicker sock will only make you feel uncomfortable and your ice skates may not fit properly like they are supposed to. Skating like this will only create more problems for you.
- Do some calf stretch exercises before you begin skating.
- Always tie your skate laces lightly and not too tight (just enough to hold your feet and legs)
Finally
To avoid being a victim of circumstances as a new skater, make sure you carry out all the tips listed above to prevent you from passing through such agonizing pain.
Invest in different arch support and orthotics, they really go a long way in helping your feet heal properly and even preventing you from experiencing arch pains while ice skating.
I hope this blog post was helpful, and if you’re experiencing arch pains just know that it’s not the end of your skating journey and you’ll be fine eventually.
Until next time friends!
