Ice hockey skates are hardly comfortable footwear. Mistakes in the type and sizing of ice hockey skates can cause severe toe pain for the athletes who wear them. Players should take the time to make sure the sizing is correct and should take many precautions to prevent toe pain. Players can also wear protective pieces to shield toes from wayward pucks and can use substances to create a shell on the front of the skate.
Causes
Ice hockey skates are sized like shoes and players must make certain they have purchased the correct size. Wearing skates with the wrong size can put players at risk of toe pain and toe injuries, according to the British Columbia Association of Podiatrists. A player can also experience toe pain after a shot puck hits his toes or if another player hits his toes with an errant stick. Improper socks can also contribute to toe pain for those who wear ice hockey skates.
Effects
The effects of toe pain are almost certain to result in decreased performance on the ice. The toes and feet are the foundation for any hockey player, with every movement starting at that part of the body. The BCAP website states a player can put himself at risk for other types of injuries if there is toe discomfort, as he will compensate to try to keep weight off the aching toes.
Prevention
Wearing toe protector on the outside of ice hockey skates can absorb some of the blow from pucks and sticks hitting the toes. According to Prohockeystuff.com, players can purchase hockey toe protector, which is applied on the toe of the skate and hardens. The hardened front of the skate will not allow the puck to push the lining of the skate toward the toes and costs $7 as of July 2010.
Types
Types of toe pain include blisters, breaks and abrasions. Blisters occur when a player's skates are too big for his feet, as the toes have enough room to slide and grind against each other and the inside of the skate. Toe breaks prevent a player from putting weight on the specific toe, while abrasions can occur when toes are struck by sticks and pucks.
Considerations
Players need to understand that foot and toe pain can happen because skates are somewhat uncomfortable to wear, and players need to know that hockey is a physical game where injuries occur often. Pucks hit toes on a frequent basis and some toe injuries cannot be prevented. All players can do is take necessary steps to prevent toe injuries and treat them when they occur to prevent further damage.
