Poster: A snowHead
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My funny shaped feet (protruding instep?) mean I have always had trouble finding comfortable snowboarding boots/bindings. Normally after a few days riding the tops of my feet are in agony. I've been in contact with Profeet in Clapham and they've just replied with this email:
Profeet wrote: |
How many days of snow boarding do you do per season?? It sounds as though you have 'bone spurs' on your in-step, these are caused by pressure and friction commonly in snowboard boots or ski boots and occasionally in work or other recreational shoes. This is a calcium build up that feels like bone.
To reduce pressure on this area requires the foot to first be stabilised in the best position in the boot through moulding a high definition insole and supporting it in a balanced, neutral position for the body in it's snowboard stance to fit in the boot. Secondly the boot liner and shell can be adapted; this requires addition and/or removal of materials. Thirdly distribution of pressure can be reviewed from adapting lacing configurations and binding strap interface with the boot and instep area.
This sort of work would include an analysis into your bio mechanics to understand what aspect of foot function has promoted the spur, plus muscular balances, tightness and weakness relative to your snowboarding and you would be offered advice on stretching and strengthening to offer improvement.
An appointment would be one-on-one and cost £119, a comfort guarantee, relative to the boot and binding suitability would also be offered. |
£119 - is it worth doing? Anywhere else near Brighton which might offer a similar service?
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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PS the boots are Nitros, bindings are Flows.
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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I used them for alpine boots and have been very happy, not cheap but have gone back for tweaks and never a quibble. ask for Jimmy.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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hd, I'd be a bit cautious of someone who would diagnose a bone spur without first looking at your feet.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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I too have wondered about Profeet now that my lovely ancient Nordicas (over 10 years old) have finally given out
I would be interested in comments from other snowheads who have gone to them for ski boots.
ickabodblue: they do say "sounds like" rather than make any firm diagnosis.
And they do go on to say "This sort of work would include an analysis into your bio mechanics to understand what aspect of foot function has promoted the spur, plus muscular balances, tightness and weakness relative to your snowboarding and you would be offered advice on stretching and strengthening to offer improvement."
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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hd, Are they gonna be charging you just for the assessment? So that cost is before any purchases? And what's a 'high definition insole'? Can you describe in more detail the problems you're experiencing?
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Jonpim, Don't know anything about how skiing or boarding affect your feet so I'm no expert. But in a normal case scenario the instep would be an unusual location for a troublesome spur. Spurs in the feet are usually found at the base of the heel bone. In saying that it is not impossible, it's just not the first thing I would think of.
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ickabodblue, i have spurs on both heels and a big one on my outside ankle due to ill fitting boots...(after going to profeet no problems whatsoever....
I think as long as you go to a good bootfitter that has an understanding of feet and a good selection of boots to choose from, (CEM, Smallzookeeper, profeet) you will be okay, choice IMO is largely based on location as you may need to go back for tweaks....
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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skimottaret, I stand corrected! Having dug out a few dusty old tomes it seems approx 19% of the adult population have an accessory navicular bone - ie an extra bit of bone in the instep.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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hd, Nope, leave it, protect it, enough done.
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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oooooooh that looks like my feet - both of them. i always thought i just had a knobbly bit. can be bloody uncomfortable when you crank the boots down for the last of the day/week blast.
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hd, I would make sure I had exhausted every other possibility before I would consider surgery. The right padding to redistribute pressure would help.
I misunderstood your first post and thought you had a bone spur on the inside of your arch, sorry.
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You know it makes sense.
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ickabodblue, agree surgery should be a last resort, however the lumpy feet are not just a problem for my snowboarding. I'm also a keen windsurfer (50+ sessions per year) and the protrusions rub on the board's footstraps. Currently I have a big and very painful scab on top of my left foot where the footstrap rubbed away the skin and I'm not sure if any sort of padding can help there.
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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hd, I'm a big fan of Flow bindings but I do wonder if you'd be better off with straps (especially the "toe cap" sort) so that there was no pressure on that bone? If that's where it is on your foot, anway....
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Poster: A snowHead
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hd, An injection tounge on your liner might be a solution.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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1 stabilize the foot with a footbed
2 possibly cut hole in tongue or replace tongue with foam one as SMALLZOOKEEPER suggested
3 put a piece of foam on the inside of the flow binding which sits either side of the problem, then when you crank the binding down there is no direct presure on the single point
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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hd: I bought boots from Profeet last winter. As well as spending time analysing my foot and doing adjustments to the boots they also gave me muscle stretching exercises to help make the boots more comfortable. My opinion is that for someone who's had problems with ski boots the service from Profeet is worth it, but if you've got the kind of feet that fit easily into a ski boot then they're expensive. (The boots I bought were comfortable and worked well during the winter)
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