All About Ice Skating

Ice skating is an excellent way to enjoy the winter weather and get some exercise.  It can be fun for the whole family or a nice night out for Mom and Dad.  This winter sport has been around for a long time, since around 3000 BC!  When it first was invented, ice skating was used as a mode of transportation.  Eventually, ice skating evolved into a fun winter pass-time.  The first ice skates were made out of animal bone and tied to the feet.  Now, ice skates are specially constructed for different types of skating, like hockey and figure-skating.

Hockey skates are made to move, turn, and stop quickly on the ice.  The skate has a curved shape and a hollow blade.  This helps the skater with speed and agility.  The blades on hockey skates also have different features, the hollow and the rocker.  A process called hollow-grinding carves out the center of the steel blade.  A deeper hollow provides the skater with a better grip, but may slow the skater down.  The blades of hockey skates also have a curve to them.  This curve aids the skater in placing his or her weight over a small portion of the blade. Different types of hockey skates include skates for forwards, defensemen, and goalies. 

Figure skates are built differently than hockey skates because they are intended for different types of movement.  A figure skate has a toe pick, curved blade, long blade, and leather boots.  These features help the figure skater to execute jumps, turns, and deep knee bends.  Hockey skates are designed with speed in mind.  There are also different types of figure skates.  For example, there are different styles of skates for freestyle, synchronized skating, or ice dancing.

Figure skaters need to be especially careful with their feet when they are told to point.  Most skaters who are told to point their toes will scrunch up their toes, causing the calf muscle to shorten and the femur towards it.  If the skater points their foot by extending the ankle, it is much easier on the calf muscle and the knee will straighten with more ease. The picture to left demonstrates the difference between pointing the toes and pointing the foot.  Figure skaters should aim for the image on the left of of the photo.

For those who have never been ice skating, a figure skate is a good option.  The blade allows you to distribute your weight evenly.  First time figure skater should be careful of the toe pick and make sure to not use it improperly.  Hockey skates may be appropriate if you are familiar with inline skating. Be sure to wear protective socks to avoid blisters.  Skaters should also make sure the skates fit properly before getting on the ice. Most importantly, first time skaters should have fun!
Ice skating can really be a blast but quickly loses its appeal if your feet begin to hurt.  Ice skating and ice skates are associated with several common foot ailments including calluses, blisters, and ankle problems. Because of the risks ice sports pose, it is important for skaters to purchase the proper shoe for the activity they will be doing. It is also important to be fit by a trained professional whenever buying a new pair of skates. A proper fit is very important.

Try these tips for Dick's Sporting Goods website when buygin your next pair of skates.

- Make sure you measure both feet when you are determining what size of skate to buy.  One of your feet may be a different size.

- When you measure the width of your feet, make sure you are sitting down.

- Bring the type of socks you will be wearing with your skates.  They will affect the fit of the boot.

- Every brand fits a little bit differently.  Make sure you take this into consideration before you make your purchase.

- Lace the boots firmly with most of the pressure at the top four eyelets.  A secure fit is very important.

This first thing skaters should do to protect their feet and ankles is evaluate the fit of their skates.  Boots that are too soft or too stiff can cause several problems and slow down your axels and slap shots. Boots that are too stiff can cause Achilles injury or tendonitis.  Tendonitis is inflammation or irritation of a tendon. It will cause pain and tenderness outside your joint.  Other symptoms include pain, tenderness, and mild swelling. You should see your podiatrist if you notice these symptoms for several days and they begin to interfere with your ice skating.

Boots that are too loose can cause Haglund's deformity.  Haglund's deformity is a bony enlargement on the back of the heel.  The rigid back of your ice skates creates irritation of the soft tissue near the Achilles tendon.  You may be especially prone to Haglund's deformity if you a high-arch, a tight achilles tendon, or the tendency to walk on the outside of your heel. If you notice a bump on the back of your heel, pain where your Achilles tendon attaches to your heel, swelling or redness near the inflamed tissue you may have Haglund's deformity.  If you think you may have Haglund's deformity call your podiatrist and set up an appointment. Treatment may include medication, ice, exercises, heel lifts, heel pads, shoe modification or orthotics, physical therapy, or immobilization.  To avoid developing Haglund's deformity make sure your boots aren't too tight, you can use arch supports or orthotics, and make sure your Achilles tendon does  not become too tight.

Ice skates can also cause several irritations on your feet like calluses and blisters.  Having properly fitted boots will help prevent these discomforts. Blisters are another annoyance that may be caused by your ice skates.  A blister is a fluid filled bump that look like bubbles on the skin.  They are caused by friction from your ice skates rubbing against your skin.  If you develop a blister take measures to avoid it from getting infected and go to the doctor if you notice any signs of infection, like pus. A great way to prevent blisters is by wearing moisture wicking socks.  You can also purchase specially designed pads to place in your boots that will prevent blisters from occuring.

Another common ailment associated with ice skating are calluses.  Corns and calluses develop when your skin is trying to protect itself from friction and pressure.  As an ice skate, you may develop corns and calluses from the friction your boots create.  A callus is characterized by thick rough skin, a hardened or raised bump, tenderness or pain under your skin, flaky dry, or waxy skin.  You don't need to seek treatment for your calluses unless they are causing you discomfort or if you are diabetic or have poor circulation.  If your calluses are causing you pain, set up an appointment with your podiatrist and he or she will treat it for you. You can also try products from our online store like Dr. Jill's callus pads.  These pads help cushion and protect calluses and painful areas on the bottom of your feet.

Remember, foot pain is not normal.  If you are experiencing any of these problems or any problems with your feet and ankles, don't hesitate to call our office (419-423-1888) and make an appointment. You can also visit our website to request an appointment with Dr. Vail.

Gear Up for Winter Sports

Get Ready to Play in the Snow

For some sports buffs, winter weather brings excitement and joy because it makes winter sports available.  These sports are fun and exciting but be sure you are being safe when enjoying winter activities.  Snowmobiles can cause very serious injuries and accidents while sledding, ice skating, and skiing can cause minor injuries, especially in children.  Be sure you are wearing the proper footwear and gear for your sport.  Try Engo Blister Prevention patches in your boots, ice skates, or snow shoes to avoid any painful sores on your feet.  The patches are applied to your equipment and footwear to provide easy blister protection and relief. The Engo Blister Prevention patches are also sweat-proof and latex free.  They are perfect for storing in your sport's bag.

A litte winter sport's history....


*The early history of ice skating is a bit debatable, but some believe ice skating had its beginnings in Scandinavia sometime between 3000 and 1000 B.C.. I realize that 2000 years is a significant time gap between theories, but depending on whom you read, these are the two timeframes most often given. The first recorded mention of ice skating is found in a biography of Thomas Becket (London born monk) written by his former clerk William Fitzstephen around 1180.

It is believed that early ice skaters in the Northern European countries used ice skating as transportation rather than for recreation, exercise or as a competitive sport. Archaeological
evidence supports this theory with findings of ice skates in Scandinavia, Germany, the Netherlands and other northern European countries. By the 1600s, the Dutch commonly used ice skating as means of transportation between villages.

Ice skating was introduced in England sometime in the 17th century, possibly by Dutch sailors. The English did not have the same need or opportunity to use ice skating for travel, so they mostly ice skated on frozen ponds. This led the English to slightly modify the blade to allow for quick turns and circles. This modification likely resulted from the pond environment (small round skating area), and led to something we now know as figure skating (see History of Figure Skating). European colonists or the English military personnel likely introduced ice skating to America and Canada in the mid 1700s.

*From www.skatingfitness.com*

Golf and your feet!

Spring and summer sports do not always have to involve strenuous activity. One of the more popular warm weather sports can be played by barely breaking a sweat. Golf is a sport filled with precision and dexterity, and is an extremely popular outdoor activity today. Don’t let this fool you, however – just because a sport is more relaxed does not mean that it is injury free. There are plenty of safety precautions that can be used to avoid problems and injury on the greens.



One hazard that applies to the sport exclusively is the golf cart. Although a quick and efficient way to travel around the large golf course, golf carts can be dangerous if used inappropriately or recklessly. One common way to hurt yourself in a golf cart is by leaving the free foot to drag across the grass instead of keeping it in the cart – it is easier than you think to catch your toes in an object lying on the ground, causing fractures and other injuries. Not only can the foot get caught on an object, but spikes can get stuck in the grass, causing the foot to bend backwards while the cart is in full motion. A simple careless error can result in serious injury, perhaps even permanent disability. When driving a golf cart, always be extra cautious on slopes or in wet conditions. Make sure you allow your partner time to get completely seated before beginning to drive.











RecoverIce, pictured here, is a great way to tend to sore muscles without interrupting your game. It requires no refrigeration and lasts longer than gels or sprays. To purchase these or other products, please visit our website, www.vailfoot.com and check out our product store.

Enjoy those sunny days on the course!

Football Season and Properly Fitting Cleats

Along with bus rides and homework, back to school also brings about football games and practices.  Make sure your cleats fit properly to avoid foot pain!  Since it has probably been around a year since you were last in your football gear, including your shoes, it is time to get re-measured.  Along with getting sized up for new pads and jerseys you should also get your feet re-measured to make sure you still wear the same size shoe as you did last football season.  You should also make sure your shoes are in good condition.  Shoes that are old and worn out can cause just as much, if not more, damage to your feet as ill-fitting shoes or cleats.

It is also a good idea to see your podiatrist for a yearly exam.  He or she will be able to screen your feet for any existing problems or injuries and help you to avoid any future problems. The doctor may also prescribe orthotics.  They can help with peroneal tendon injuries, posterior tibial injuries, tendonitis, morton’s neuroma, shin splints, and plantar fasciitis.  Orthotics are also prescribed to

1) Reduce pain

2) Provide support

3) Prevent or slow down the development of a foot deformity

4) Provide better positioning of the foot, knee and hips

5) Improve the overall bio mechanical function of the body

Functional orthotics allow the muscles, tendons and bones of the feet and lower legs to function at their highest potential. When appropriately fabricated, orthotics can decrease pain, not only in the foot, but in other parts of the body such as the knee, hip and lower back. By eliminating the need for one's muscles to compensate for imbalances, orthotics can reduce fatigue and promote efficient muscle function to enhance performance. They can also increase stability in an unstable joint and prevent an early foot deformity from developing additional problems.

Most serious athletes who have bio mechanical imperfections end up with orthotics out of necessity. The occasional weekend athlete may not likely need orthotics unless they have a serious bio mechanical weakness, but for the serious athlete any bio mechanical weakness will be magnified ten-fold, with the result being injury.

When an athlete gets a series of nagging injuries one after the other, they are probably caused by a bio mechanical flaw and can be corrected by orthotics. Athletes who suffer from chronic knee pain, arch pain, plantar fasciitis, heel spurs, hip and lower back pain and certain types of muscular fatigue very often benefit from orthotics.

Orthotics, like the Powersteps pictured above, can also be worn during everyday activities for support. The powersteps are available through our product store.  Call our office at 419-423-1888 or visit our website to make an appointment to get your feet evaluated for this football season.

Are Shin Splints Slowing You Down?

Shin splints, or medial tibial stress syndrome, are very common in athletes.  Runners, basketball players, soccer players, and tennis players are at risk because of the excess pressure they put on the shin bone and connective tissues.

Shin splints can be treated with rest, ice, pain medication, proper footwear, and shoe inserts. To prevent shin splints, be sure to wear properly fitting and supportive shoes. Cross-training with a lower impact sport, like swimming, can also prevent shin splints.

If you think you may be suffering from shin splints, see your podiatrist. The Advanced Footcare Clinic offers digital scanning.  This allows us to make custom molded orthotics that can disperse the stress on the shins.

You can also try some over the counter products for reducing pain caused by shin splints.  For example, RecoverIce.  RecoverIce is an ice-wrap bandage that provides cooling and compression with no refrigeration necessary.  Plus, the wrap stays cool for longer than an ice pack, gels, or sprays.  To purchase this product or other products like it, go to www.vailfoot.com and visit the product store.  To make an appointment to see a podiatrist, call 419-423-1888.

To Tape, Or Not to Tape? That is the question

Taping vs. prefabricated bracing has been researched on both the efficacy and the cost of each. It has been shown that both can reduce the risk of recurrent ankle sprains. It also has been shown that taping and bracing do help to strengthen the ankle and also improve the proprioception. Proprioception is the body’s ability to detect where it is in space, which is often damaged with a sprain, which leads to recurrent sprains. Taping has been shown to reduce the risk of ankle sprains in the athlete who is prone to the inversion ankle injury. There are several issues with taping though. Some athletes develop irritation from the taping. There are variations in the person taping. The tape has also been shown to lose its efficacy in as soon as10 - 30 minutes. Taping can also be more costly as you add up the cost of the tape on a regular basis and the time of the person taping. The cost of one roll of tape is on average $1.40, which is needed for one ankle plus the cost of pretape, lubricant and the person taping. It can cost over a thousand dollars per athlete per season. Taping does work very well but the cost and loss of strength have been points to advocate the use of a prefabricated brace. Taping also cannot be adjusted by the athlete. Bracing has also been shown to decrease the risk of ankle sprains. Ankle braces are prefabricated and, not being custom to each athlete, may cause some irritation to certain patients. The ankle brace can be adjusted by the individual athlete during the course of the game or practice, which cannot be done with the tape. The cost of the brace is anywhere from $35-$100 which is significantly less than the cost of the tape. For a great brace try the Ossur - Exoform Ankle Brace.

This brace can be found on our website, http://www.vailfoot.com/.  It features -Speed laces allow the user to lace up the Exoform in seconds, a big time saver that will encourage use and drive compliance.
-Slim fit design is low profile and fits easily into all footwear.
- Injection molded exoskeleton forms a network of support zones strategically placed to minimize inversion and eversion without restricting plantar and dorsi-flexion.
-Available with a unique heel-lock strapping system.
-Nylon "figure 8" straps will not stretch during exercise. Fully adjustable even while in use.
-Breathable lightweight fabric enhances comfort by allowing heat and moisture to escape throughout the brace.
-Padded heel and tongue fabric is durable and provides added comfort. Material is 100% latex free. 

If you are experiencing foot or ankle trouble, call our office at 419-423-1888 and make an appointment to see the podiatrist.

Glide Through Ice Skating

Ice skating is a great winter pass time but blisters can really put a damper on the fun.  A great way to prevent your ice skates from causing you pain is to make sure they fit! Be sure to bring along the socks or tights you plan on wearing with your ice skates because a slight change in sock thickness can greatly change the fit of your skate.  Buy your skates at a store with a professional who is trained it fitting.  Be sure your skates are not too tight or too loose, this ensures that they will not cause rubbing and blisters.  Also, go shopping in the afternoon because this is when your feet are the most swollen and ensures you to get the best fit.

However, if your ice skates do cause a blister visit our product store for some great pain relieving products. The active ingredient in Wound-Be-Gone® traps, binds, and neutralizes oxygen free radicals. Oxygen free radicals are toxic substances known to cause inflammation and may slow wound healing. The formula, unique among wound care products, is a revolutionary method of treating acute and chronic wounds, as well as minor injuries. Wound-Be-Gone has been clinically proven to accelerate healing, decrease inflammation, and reduce pain. In addition to these beneficial effects, Wound-Be-Gone helps to prevent the formation of scars. By decreasing the tissue inflammation, providing a moist healing environment, and maximizing the body's ability to heal, the formation of scar tissue is being lessened dramatically. For all of your foot care needs visit vailfoot.com or call our office 419-423-1888.