Sometimes the things we love the most can cause us the most pain, and unfortunately skating can be a part of that. Roller skating can cause a variety of injuries to the foot with a variety of levels of discomfort. This can include pain on the bottom, top, or sides of the foot.
Skating, along with other sports, can become difficult or even impossible without proper foot care. Thankfully, there are ways to relieve your pain from skating and prevent it from happening again in the future.
Boot-Related Foot Pains
Poorly fitted skating boots can contribute to foot pain. Properly fitted boots can help you remain pain free and skating strong! You’ll want to avoid boots that are the wrong size, whether they are too small or too large, the boots will cause pain. Blisters are another thing to be aware of with ill fitting skate boots. Another thing to avoid is lacing your boots too tightly, which is known as lace bite or skate bite. Lacing your boots too tightly can irritate the soft tissue on the tops of your feet.
How To Prevent Pain
The best news is that most roller skating pain is completely preventable! Having skates that fit correctly and are properly padded is half of the battle. Another way to prevent skating pain is proper stretching and warmups before stepping on the rink. Lower body stretches that stretch out your lower back, hips, legs, and feet help gear your body for the exercise you do while skating.
Many skaters that have foot, ankle, or knee problems wear custom inserts that help align their skates properly. These gel inserts or heel supports can relieve pain during skating.
When foot pain occurs, it’s important to reduce or stop skating until the pain is completely gone. If you have any swelling or discomfort, elevate your affected foot and apply ice to the affected area for 20 minutes to reduce any pain or swelling.
If you’re interested in better fitting skates or ways to upgrade your skates to prevent foot pain, check out our Pro Shop. We hope these tips help you relieve and prevent skating pain!
