Painful feet advice

johntin wrote:Ise
you have lost me, I just want my feet to stop hurting!

Oh dear ise has gone all technical on you :shock:
I also have ongoing foot probs following surgery, and I trust my feet to these folks.
http://www.solutions4feet.com/
My orthopaedic surgeon has written to Colin Martin there, to say how impressed he was with the support made for me. I have had supports made for my shoes and also my ski boots, and Colin works with both national ski teams and recreational skiers.
It's a long way for you to travel, just how much do your feet hurt :)

Thanks bandit, ise and others for your advice.

In ten days time I see my podiatrist for a check up, so I will discuss some of your comments with her, ( she also skis )
As you say bandit, things can get quite technical,I had alook at the "solutions for feet" website, sounds great their pricing also seems reasonable (I have spent a bundle so far). as you guessed It is long way for me to travel, which is the problem, I may ring them and ask for advive which I could possibly pass on to my podiatrist.

Thanks

Having had troubles myself I know painful feet can make for an extremely miserable day. Good fitting boots are so important and definitely the starting point but your problems may not only be boot related.

A good ski friend of mine had/has exactly the same problem with cramping under the feet. She had new boots fitted and the problem was only marginally improved which caused frustration +++.

The problem seemed to come after about 30 minutes and usually after moving from the easier runs to something a little more challenging. We worked out that it was partly due to the "clenching" of the feet, so screwing up the toes, sort of like you clench a fist. She tended to do this firstly to try to exert more control to the ski and secondly as a sort of tension response to slightly more difficult skiing. And also it was a totally unconcious thing, she had no idea (until much thought, discussion etc) that her feet were constantly tensed up.

The things that have improved (but not cured) the issue have been. a) Practice relaxing the feet within the boot while clipped into your ski "untense" the foot, wiggle the toes a little, do this well before any crampy feeling has started; at the start of the day, the top of the run etc b) Try to exert control to the ski by the ball of your foot, not by the screwed up toe tips. c) Loosen the boots every lift ride (surface lifts make this difficult).

Good boots are still the cornerstone. Give some of these ideas a try, I hope they help. As I say the problem is not 'cured' but it is now so much better. However we still have retreat to the bar for boots off, foot massage and beers on occasion. :)

epic
You have spotted somthing here,

the other week while on the indoor ski slope I was doing exactly what you described, everything you said, clenching my toes and screwing them up, almost like trying to grip the footbed, I think this was happening when I was preparing to make a turn. In my original post I mentioned I had not skied for ten years so I was not totally relaxed on the indoor slope which maybe didnt help, hence the clenching of toes, also my ski tips were wavering about slightly and I think I was possibly trying to stop this by clenching my toes,wierd?

The first years when I skied I never had this problem, the later years, speed picked up and runs got steeper and like your friend these runs were more challenging to me,this is where my problems may have started?

Thanks for your comments epic. Boots off and back to the bar sounds like great therapy.
cheers

Johntin

I hope a few of those things helps for your feet too.

My little theory is that clenching the feet is a natural response in order to slow down a bit, just like leaning back whilst skiing is. Nothing a bit of aggression and progression won't cure.

Hi!
I also have this exact same problem - so nice to know i am not alone - my family think I just complain toomuch but what you have described is the very same thing I get!! - can you tell me if you have found an answer as I am going skiing again in Feb and would love to know how to fix this and not ruin my holiday with the pain!!!

cwagner
I posted a while back saying that I had some footbeds made at ellis b, and that I was going to try them out on the ski slope at Castleford,
This monday gone I gave them a try, taking on board especially what epic suggested ie trying not to tense or scrunch up toes etc and relaxing, guess what? it did make a difference, not perfect but not as painful as before, my little toes never went numb, but I did have some cramping in my left foot. hopefuly when my boots are worn in a little more on our february ski trip,things will improve.
I do think a combination of good footbeds and epics suggestions have made a difference, plus other helpful posts.

AbsoluteAlps wrote:...Different brands fit different people...

That is what Snow & Rock told me recently.