Burning calves & ankles

[clydall 0]

Hoping someone might have some suggestions or better yet someone who’s had the same problems

I can’t play for very long before my ankles and calves start burning

While I’m relatively new to hockey (2yrs) I do play at least once every week. I guess I figured the muscles would have built up a bit since then but the problems persist to this day. It’s keeping me from improving - it’s difficult to worry about perfect strides when you can barely move your leg.

- I’ve bought new skates that are snug without being painful

- I make sure I’m well hydrated before and during the games

Is this just a matter of really weak ankles? Something else?

- I have pretty high arches, could this factor into ankle fatigue?

Any help would be appreciated!

[Hermans 9]

I get that way if I haven't skated in a few weeks. I don't feel that way when I'm on a roll of playing more than 2x a week. I use the Sidas footbeds for the arch support in both my skates. Finally I'v been playing about 2 years. For me it was the committment to playing at least 2x per week that made the differenc once I finally got skates that fit me well.

[Axxion89 32]

If its a burning feeling from muscles acid buildup due to repeated movement there isn't much you can do i think. I get that feeling every now and then and for me its from being lazy and skating poorly. Have someone who knows how to skate well look at your stride, you may be using too much of you calves and ankles to skate and not you quads.

[Secti0n31 0]

I'm having the same problem. Before I signed up for my beer league I hadn't skated much since 2005. Now I'm re-learning everything that I forgotten and I have a nasty habit of over-doing it during open skates. I have roughly a half hour of skating before the outside of my calves start to hurt, and my ankles turn to mush.

I was going to try to tape my ankles all the way from the top eyelet to about 1" above the tendon guard so that even when my ankles DO get wobbly I've got enough support to keep me upright. When I do try it I'll let you all know.

I'm also looking for advise on this topic tho. My ankles have zero endurance and after a half hour or so I have to stop for 5 minutes and let the muscles relax. Even when my skates are super-tight they feel wobbly at that point. You're not the only one with this problem and I'd like to fix it too.

PS: I do calf raises all day every day, and I stretch before skating, any other off-ice exercises to build calf/ankle strength specific to skating are very helpful to me.

[jds 20]

I'm having the same problem. Before I signed up for my beer league I hadn't skated much since 2005. Now I'm re-learning everything that I forgotten and I have a nasty habit of over-doing it during open skates. I have roughly a half hour of skating before the outside of my calves start to hurt, and my ankles turn to mush.

I was going to try to tape my ankles all the way from the top eyelet to about 1" above the tendon guard so that even when my ankles DO get wobbly I've got enough support to keep me upright. When I do try it I'll let you all know.

I'm also looking for advise on this topic tho. My ankles have zero endurance and after a half hour or so I have to stop for 5 minutes and let the muscles relax. Even when my skates are super-tight they feel wobbly at that point. You're not the only one with this problem and I'd like to fix it too.

PS: I do calf raises all day every day, and I stretch before skating, any other off-ice exercises to build calf/ankle strength specific to skating are very helpful to me.

You need to work on the small stabilizer muscles in your ankles. Try a wobble board or something that will mimic the lack of stability of being on skates. Taping your ankles is just a quick fix that will prevent your ankles from gaining the necessary strength on their own.

I'm having the same problem. Before I signed up for my beer league I hadn't skated much since 2005. Now I'm re-learning everything that I forgotten and I have a nasty habit of over-doing it during open skates. I have roughly a half hour of skating before the outside of my calves start to hurt, and my ankles turn to mush.

I was going to try to tape my ankles all the way from the top eyelet to about 1" above the tendon guard so that even when my ankles DO get wobbly I've got enough support to keep me upright. When I do try it I'll let you all know.

I'm also looking for advise on this topic tho. My ankles have zero endurance and after a half hour or so I have to stop for 5 minutes and let the muscles relax. Even when my skates are super-tight they feel wobbly at that point. You're not the only one with this problem and I'd like to fix it too.

PS: I do calf raises all day every day, and I stretch before skating, any other off-ice exercises to build calf/ankle strength specific to skating are very helpful to me.

You need to work on the small stabilizer muscles in your ankles. Try a wobble board or something that will mimic the lack of stability of being on skates. Taping your ankles is just a quick fix that will prevent your ankles from gaining the necessary strength on their own.

[Justin Liedloff 13]

My guess would be that your skates are too tight in the ankles, preventing forward flex, causing you to use more of your calf/ankle muscles to skate. It happened to me when I switched from 15+ year old CCM 652s to Kor Shift 2. The new skates were so stiff, I couldn't skate for more than 10 minutes before my entire foot and calf was cramping. I went from cinched as tight as I could get them, to barely snug over the arch, and tight with my ankle completely bent.

[Secti0n31 0]

My guess would be that your skates are too tight in the ankles, preventing forward flex, causing you to use more of your calf/ankle muscles to skate. It happened to me when I switched from 15+ year old CCM 652s to Kor Shift 2. The new skates were so stiff, I couldn't skate for more than 10 minutes before my entire foot and calf was cramping. I went from cinched as tight as I could get them, to barely snug over the arch, and tight with my ankle completely bent.

I've skipped an eyelet over the arch, which really helped with my flat foot pain. The rest of the skate isn't all that tight. except for the very top eyelet. Are you suggesting I skip that eyelet too? My foot still cramps up at the arch (or lack thereof because I have flat feet) but the worst part is the fact that after X time my ankles get so wobbly it feels as if my skates have come untied. (I use waxed laces, they don't budge). When I was playing in HS I always kept the forefoot laces looser and the top laces tight but not circulation killing tight.

I can never tie my skates properly, and it seems like I never tie them the same way twice. It's always one thing or the other that ends up sore, but the only constants are teh jello ankles.

[GoBucky 0]

Sounds to me that its more a matter of needing to work on the muscles in your ankles. Im in the same boat and found that doing exercises to help strengthen my legs and ankles has greatly helped (skating more helps too).

[Secti0n31 0]

Sounds to me that its more a matter of needing to work on the muscles in your ankles. Im in the same boat and found that doing exercises to help strengthen my legs and ankles has greatly helped (skating more helps too).

I absolutely agree, I'm doing a few balance and isometric exercises, and a ton of calf raises at different angles. I skate 2-3 times a week and if my math is anywhere close, I should have some decent lower leg strength in about 4-6 more weeks. Right now the bendy ankles is my biggest problem and affects every aspect of my skating. Hope it works out, these things usually do.

[clydall 0]

cool, thanks for the suggestions. think I'll pick up a wobble board from the fitness depot and try to make it out to the rink more than once a week.

cheers

[GoBucky 0]

cool, thanks for the suggestions. think I'll pick up a wobble board from the fitness depot and try to make it out to the rink more than once a week.

cheers

Also try standing on one foot with your eyes closed. It sounds easy but its a lot harder than youd think and will keep you off balance so that you have to use the muscles in your ankles more to keep your balance.

[Darkbyte 0]

How strong are your quads? You may be relying soley on your calves and ankles for stability especially if you have a more upright stance.

Balance is a combination of quads, calves and ankles. Your quads should be doing most of the work to maintain a well balanced hockey position.

Definately try some one foot balance exercises (once every other day should be enough), eyes open first, then progress to eyes closed/using a mini trampoline/wobble board etc.

Start off with 2-3 sets of 15 seconds and then add 5-10 seconds per week until you get to around 2 minutes.

The position you want to be in, is not as deep as a single leg squat, but make sure your knees are bent.

Tip: make sure you shift your weight back towards your heels so that you are using your quads for stability, rather than relying soley on your calves and ankles as you do when your weight is further forward. You will know when you are using your quads correctly :)

If pain persists, go see your doctor.

[toddmanley 0]

I've been doing some balance exercises with a Bosu ball and these have helped me a lot. Easy to do in front of the TV while watching a game. Beware however that your legs will be extremely tired and fatigued the next morning if you don't have the endurance.