 Poster: A snowHead
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Hi everyone,
Im a new skier (3 seasons in) and had real problems last season with my boots/feet going numb and painful after a couple of runs. After many failed fittings and changes I saw a specialist who said it was due to tight calf muscles making my feet numb and painful due to all the pressure being on my toes.
he reccomended stretching, but I didnt have enough time to get alot out of a stretching regime before last season began, so fingers crossed for this year. I also have a heel lift put in (which didnt help last season) I have started to get soft tissue release to help lengthen the muscles further before I go skiing at new year.
I just wondered if anyone else has actually had this problem lessen from stretching and massage - as at the moment im not convinced that that amount of pain can be countered by stretching.
Thanks in advance 
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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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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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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when you say you are starting to see some improvement - how long has this taken? i.e do you think there is any hope of pain free skiing for me at crimble?
can i have some more info on hoe to get in touch with CEM - dont knwo how this site works - eeeek!
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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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forevervodka, click on Send/Read Messages below the logo (top tight) and send a PM (Private message). Otherwise click here http://solutions4feet.co.uk/ CEM is Colin.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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forevervodka, i bet your boots are too big.
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| forevervodka wrote: |
Hi everyone,
Im a new skier (3 seasons in) and had real problems last season with my boots/feet going numb and painful after a couple of runs. After many failed fittings and changes I saw a specialist who said it was due to tight calf muscles making my feet numb and painful due to all the pressure being on my toes.
he reccomended stretching, but I didnt have enough time to get alot out of a stretching regime before last season began, |
1. As others have said check your boots fit correctly.
2. Assuming you brush your teeth twice a day, then that is 4 minutes of calf stretch time that could work wonders........it made a big difference for me
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This may sound silly but are you fastening your boots from bottom clip up? If you are this will be causing the pain to
your feet.
Start from the top and work down and that should ease the pressure to your feet.
Any boot fitting expert please correct me if im wrong.
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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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Renry, CEM fastened my new boots the same way I did, which was to start from the bottom up, just to catch the top two clips. I think that's necessary if you've got big legs and/or a liner with its own power strap to contend with, as these make it difficult to fasten the top clip first. He then went on to tighten the top two clips alone. However, he taught me a natty trick which was to flex the ankle while tightening the clip on the ankle (second from the top) - that helps to get the foot well into the back of the boot.
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forevervodka, my mother, who was Russian, used to say that she knew when she had reached her limit of vodka shots when she could no longer feel her legs from the knee down. Could this, in fact, be your problem? 
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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forevervodka, get rid of those damn ski boots and get into snowboarding. Nice soft leather snowboard boots would sort you out....
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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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I've had the aching feet too. I remember having this problem during ski school lessons - all that standing around.
I think in many cases it's cramp in the sole of the foot caused by trying to grip with your toes or using the toes to try to bring yourself forward. I;ve had days, when I am skiing poorly, and i get the aching feet. Then the next day I'm fine - so don't neglect the possibility that it could be your technique rather than the boots.
Poor fitting boots won't help tho - I bet a good skier could ski at an intermediate level in the wrong size boots without getting sore.
I try to relax on the lift - let your feet dangle rather than use the support. Hope you get it sorted.
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forevervodka, I had the same problem and stretching hasn't helped much. I still have very tight calves. CEM has adjusted my boots so that I have a more upright stance so the back of my boot isn't pressing on the nerve at the back of the leg causing numbness. It's worked but I'm still going try snowboarding!
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You know it makes sense.
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I agree with Hurtle, . I was shown to do them up from bottom toe clip upwards. My solution to my numb [not aching] feet was to adjust the clips on their little ferrules or whatever they are until my feet were not being strangled. You only need to feel the boots are on - I think if you are a recreational skier there is no need to do them up so tight as to kill the circulation off.
Stretches may help. Remember that a day of skiing in a boot means that your calves are pretty much immobilised so you feet are not getting the benefit of the natural muscle pump helping your circulation down into and back out of your feet, which you get from normal walking about. This may [note the may, not will] add to the numbness. I know from my own personal experience [note my experience, not anyone elses] that by the end of the day my feet cramp - but it does alleviate when I take off the boots.
Loose yer bootsforevervodka, 
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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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I started with that sort of problem in badly fitting boots. When I got some that fit properly I managed to localise some of the pain to when I'd got tense and tried to grip with my toes which I called my toe brake. Now I'm aware of the cause of the problem, I can consciously relax my toes and I don't have to take my boots off every lunch time as I did before. The only time I get sore feet is when I get myself in a tizzy about something (usually a cat track with an edge) and don't manage to relax my toes, so they get all compressed and numb! Need to remember feet even when stressing about the evil edge (leading to a blue standard slope or whatever) that is stalking me and is clearly going to come and get me!
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Poster: A snowHead
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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| forevervodka wrote: |
I have seen over 10 boot fitters with this saga  2 of these fitters actually thought that my boot was too small, but the size up I can feel is too big - my heel lifts out of these right away and I have no control. I already fasten my boots by flexing my ankle and do up the powerstrap first so that I can actually close the top clip, but thanks for the tip I have sent CEM a message, as i just love the snow so much i need to explore every option ( even if its one ive looked at before)...... snowboarding has crossed my mind, but the thought of spending the first few days of my holiday eating snow, like i did when i learned to ski is enough to put me off! although a few tapes to send off to youve been framed could help subsidise my hols! 
thanks for all your help. I shall report back....watch this space.....off to clean her teeth, with vodka, and stretch them troublesome limbs x |
Hi Forever, I have been fitting boots since 1984 and if you have visited "10" PEOPLE with this problem I can only imagine that the "people" that you have seen are NOT bootfitters and are most likely a group of boot salesman who pay lip service to actually fitting.
After working in the Uk ski industry for some 25 years I am now fortunate enough to have my own ski shop in Morzine and see a constant stream of skiers who have in a number of cases paid out good hard earned for a very poor job, one guy who was sent to me last season by his ski school had paid over £480 for a job that I simply could not believe, this poor guy could only be actively involved in his ski school group for 15 minutes at a time at best before having to sit down and take off his boots, the amount of guff that had been stuck onto the base of his Custom footbed and badly ground beggered belief, some new "correctly" formed custom footbeds realignment and a stretch later the guy returned to the shop singing and dancing saying that this was the first time that he had skied without pain in 14 years (a damning condemnation of those who have sold him boots in the past). The problem now lies in the fact that for years people like CEM and SZK and myself have been FITTING boots whilst a number of retailers have either mocked or ignored bootfitting because it either took up too much time or they could not be bothered to invest the money and time to have "Interested" staff properly trained and continued to sell BIG Boots, now these self same retailers realise that they cannot ignore bootfitting due to the fact that skiers are better educated than they once were, so in a number of cases they will buy in "custom" footbeds etc and simply use them as add on sales, you now have a situation wherby you not only get the wrong boot but you also get a badly made orthotic to go in it.
Dont give up the faith, Badly fitted boots are not a good reason to give up skiing a take up boarding, simply find a good bootfitter (you wont go wrong with CEM in the UK) you will find that your skiing will be a better experience than ever.
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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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1 pair of socks dude. problem solved. I claim my 5 pounds 
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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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forevervodka, I can vouch for CEM's calf stretching exercises - I actually need to do them all year round. Pain in my feet hasn't really been a problem, but pain in my calf has been agonising over the years as the forward lean on most alpine boots has my muscles at full stretch. The solution for me was to swap to a paid of touring/alpine hybrid boots (Dynafit Zzeus in my case) with a proper walk function and to engage it whenever I'm just standing around
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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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eng_ch, That sounds like an interesting solution. For me, the problem starts to rear its ugly head when I'm either standing, walking or on the dreaded drag lifts. I never gave any proper thought to the reason for it, but that would make sense.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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lol - I wish it were just socks
The above post is quite right, some of those I have seen were certainly sales people and not fitters, but you'd still think some of them might have a dash of a clue. But 3 of them were well experienced resort fitters. The first in Tigne, who gave me several rental boots to try and find the problem (this was the begining of my journey, and now I know better than this). I then saw a physio a specialist in wnter sports, on my return as I thought it might be something to do with my stance etc. The second in Italy, who I told of the potential calf problem found by the physio - who scratched his head, did a few alternations but got no where - lol.The last person I saw Dec 08 was in Morzine and came to me reccomended as someone with lots of experience - and he seemed to bawk at my claims of tight calves too. He said my boots were too small. He gave me a rental boot in a larger size to try for a run- but I just slopped around in them. Again he was helpful, made some suggestions, and alternations, but I didnt get to fully test my adjusted boots as I fell down a flight of stairs and spent the following week being unable to move in the apartment!!!! (and I was sober! bummer!) - not very lucky so far am I, ha ha.
The pain returned with a vengence when skiing in italy, and austria earlier this year. As above I only got about 15 mins with my ski groups until I felt the need to cut my feet off.
Oh well, I will continue with my stretching, deep tissue massage - and have booked an appointment to see CEM. I will continue the crusade for pain free skiing, and report back
Thanks for all your help guys
x
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forevervodka, hope it sorts itself out. Make sure you do the right calf stretches for skiing (ie the ones with bent leg). Also, try massaging your calves, lying in bed, using the heel of the opposite foot. You might well find some quite sore bits - especially right at the back, just under the widest part - which need to be "massaged away" as they can give you bad cramp under the foot. My OH has that problem - I do the calf rub and he has also found that rolling his feet on a massager like this
http://www.siberianproducts.com/woodenmassagers/footmassagers/handandfootmassager.html just before putting his ski boots on helps a great deal.
And if you wear shoes with high heels, stop NOW.
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pam w,
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try massaging your calves, lying in bed, using the heel of the opposite foot.
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Blimey, you some kind of contortionist, or wot?
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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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| Quote: |
you some kind of contortionist, or wot?
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No - it's not hard. The calf being massaged is on top. 'Tis true that my OH can't do his own - but that's because he's got negligible hip rotation. Any ordinarily flexible OAP ought to be able to do it and the hard bony heel is just the instrument to find the sore bits. 
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pam w, OK, I agree it's possible, but does your OH wear body armour to avoid, say, being kneed in the groin while this elegant manoeuvre is being carried out?
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Hurtle, LMAO
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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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Hurtle, my OH has nothing to do with this. I do it myself. He has to get someone else to give him a hand job (if you see what I mean). When I can be bothered.
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pam w, oh right, you kick him out of bed first, then. With a flick of your flexible hips. Fair enough.
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You know it makes sense.
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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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comprex, not at all, I assure you.
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FAQ
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