From: swisher@cs.utexas.edu (Janet M. Swisher)
Newsgroups: rec.skate,sci.med,rec.skiing,rec.running
Subject: Arch pain while skating(& skiing)
Date: 25 Jan 1993 12:32:08 -0600
Organization: CS Dept, University of Texas at Austin
NNTP-Posting-Host: boogie.cs.utexas.edu

Sorry for the diverse cross-post.  I am trying to cast a wide net for
possible expertise.  Please reply by email, or edit Newsgroups:
appropriately.  I am looking for advice, information, resources,
books, etc.  on biomechanics, especially on correcting abnormalities
as they relate to skating- and skiing-type activities.

The details:

My husband Paul would like to get in shape, but knows from experience
that he will not stick with an activity that is not both convenient
and enjoyable in itself, which cuts out swimming, cycling and running
(no flames, that's his preference).  He is interested in
rollerblading, but the few times he has rented skates, he has
developed pain across his arches within just a few minutes, severe
enough to make him want to stop (he has high arches).  Adjusting the
laces/straps or switching to a different size does not seem to have
much effect.  The pain takes a couple of hours to subside.

At the suggestion of one of the skate shop guys, Paul went to see a
podiatrist to be fitted for orthotics (expensive, yes, but worth it if
it works and we can get him to start exercising).  Even with the
orthotics, the pain recurred.  The podiatrist made some adjustments,
but they seemed to help only marginally, if at all.  The podiatrist
does not seem to know much about rollerblading.  He told Paul several
things which may not all be consistent or true.

One is that the bones in Paul's feet lock together a little later in
his stride than normal.  Therefore, when he tries to push out with
them, they are not rigid, and his muscles have to try to make up the
difference, which puts extra strain on them.  This seems to explain
Paul's experience the one time he tried going skiing.  He literally
could not do what the instructor said; if he tried to put his weight
on his toes, he could not push his skis to the side.  He had to put
his weight on his heels instead.  He also had foot pain while skiing,
but just put up with it so as not to blow his one available day on the
slopes.

Another thing the podiatrist said is that orthotics are "better" than
regular arch supports because an arch support is analogous to sticking
a column in the middle of an arch to keep it from falling down,
whereas an orthotic is analogous to a flying buttress in that it helps
the arch act as an arch (I don't think he meant that an orthotic is
*really* a flying buttress, but that it works in a similar way).  He
also said that the way to correct the position at which Paul's foot
locks is to correct the verticle angle of the foot.

The orthotics certainly *seem* a lot like regular arch supports.  They
are molded to his foot shape, and stop just short of the ball of the
foot.  Wouldn't a "buttress" need something on the toe side of the
arch?  And if they're supposed to correct the verticle angle of the
foot, couldn't they just be a foot-shaped wedge of a few degrees?

Finally, Paul has in the distant past gone ice skating, and does not
recall that the leather boots of the ice skates caused him any pain.
Are there brands of inline rollerskates that have ice-skate-style
leather boots?

I'd appreciate any suggestions that will increase my understanding of
the biomechanics of skating, and of orthotics and how they work.

	Thanks,
	Janet
-- 
Don't take life so serious ... it ain't *no how* permanent. -- Porkypine.