Foot cramps while standing in skates - need advice

[xaphod 0]

I am hoping that someone here has a suggestion for me.

I can not stand still in my skates without pain, even for a couple of minutes. Skating is fine.

I have played as an adult for about 6 years (low level rec).

When I stand still I get this weird cramping on the sole of my foot. It is not a pressure or a rubbing problem - it is an ache that feels like the sole of my foot wants to curl up on itself. (When it gets really, really bad, it does cramp up almost like a charlie-horse on the sole of my foot.)

I skated for about 4 years on Bauer 900s (old, but still in good shape). I switched to CCMs hoping to solve this issue. They are a hugely different skate, but I still have the same problem. Both pairs of skates were professionally sized and fitted.

I have flat feet, but I do not have this problem when I'm not in skates - shoes, sandals, bare feet - all are fine.

I have tried using the skates' own insoles, after-market insoles, and custom-made orthotics - nothing helps.

Has anyone else every had this problem? What could it be?

Thanks.

[Vet88 674]

It's to do with foot mechanics and if you have been professionally fitted with orthotics then I'd have thought the specialist would have covered this. When you are in shoes the pressure on the bottom of the feet is spread from the heel forward and your feet have adapted to standing ie the foot muscles are optimised for work in this position. When you are in ice skates, you are pitched further forward towards the balls of your feet and do more work over the balls of your feet therefore different tensions on the foot muscles come into play. If you have flat feet then, when in ice skates, the tension on the tendons running through the middle of the feet can cause them to cramp up if they are weak or misaligned. There are some exercises you can do that help strengthen these tendons and this should help to alleviate the problem. If you skate long enough and often enough, like every day for hours a day for a couple of years, it will get better as the muscles and tendons strengthen in these areas. If you don't then you need to do something else to address the issue.

[Souldriver 64]

I get the same thing. It hurts when I take long periods off then as I get back into it it gets better. I don't notice it while skating unless it's a long shift. But once I get off I feel.it.

[SCOMPL 14]

You could try loosening the middle skate laces so it is not compressing the arch of your foot. Waxed laces and different lacing techniques (such as in the first part of this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SOE28brAcEc) can help keep certain areas of lacing looser than others.

[xaphod 0]

Thanks guys!

I'll see if my physiotherapist can give me exercises for the feet...in the meantime creative lacing here I come!