Pain or cramping in the toe, heel, arch, sole, instep or ankle can occur during or after inline skating. According to the International Inline Skating Association, a 1996 study conducted by the Consumer Products Safety Commission indicates that 1 percent of inline skating injuries affect the foot. Seek medical attention for severe pain that affects the ability to walk or if self-treatment doesn't relieve the pain.
Pain from Inline Skating
Inline skating may result in a variety of injures to the foot causing pain. Blisters may form when boots don't fit properly. A study published in the March 1990 issue of "The Physician and Sportsmedicine" indicates the boot causes many of the foot injuries among figure skaters. Pressure against the boot results in calluses and hammertoes; jumping causes stress fractures of the bones in the foot from lack of cushion during landing, and pain in the navicular bone near the ankle results from the construction of the arch support.
Boot Precautions
Fabric liners fit inside plastic inline skating boots designed to support the foot and ankle. Fit and size may vary by manufacturer. Try on the liner separately and in the skate to ensure comfort. Fasten the buckles to make sure they don't cause discomfort. In "Current Diagnosis and Treatment in Sports Medicine," Dr. Christian Lattermann, Dr. Derek Armfield and Dr. Dane Wukich recommend using the best footwear available for the sporting activity and customizing fit as needed for foot variations like flat feet or high arches.
Prevention and Self-treatment
Use appropriate technique and limit inline skating to prevent tiring the feet and ankles. Gel inserts or heel supports may relieve pain during inline skating. When foot pain occurs, reduce or stop skating until the pain is gone. To treat foot pain, MedlinePlus.com recommends applying ice to reduce pain and swelling, elevating the foot and taking over-the-counter pain medicine such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen. Seek medical attention for severe pain or pain lasting longer than one to two weeks.
Medical Intervention
A physician asks questions about the pain and performs a physical examination of the painful area. X-rays show bone fractures. A podiatrist checks for variations in foot shape, stance and movement as possible causes of pain and may prescribe specially made inserts to correct problems. Pain and swelling can result from stress fractures. Treatment can depend on the location of the stress fracture in the foot, according to "Current Diagnosis and Treatment in Sports Medicine." A cast shoe can be used for stress fractures of the metatarsal bones in the forefoot, but stress fractures of the tarsal bones near the ankle usually require a cast and no weight bearing for six to eight weeks.
References
- International Inline Skating Association: Inline Skating Safety Statistics
- "The Physician and Sportsmedicine"; Foot and Ankle Injuries in Figure Skaters; Angela D. Smith; March 1990
- "Current Diagnosis and Treatment in Sports Medicine"; Lower Leg, Ankle and Foot Injuries; Christian Lattermann, M.D., Derek Armfield, M.D., and Dane K. Wukich, M.D.; 2007
- MedlinePlus: Foot Pain
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