Hockey and figure skates don't fit like regular street shoes, which is why they are sometimes painful if you have purchased the wrong size or did not have them fitted properly. Without a proper fitting, the tops of the skates or the laces themselves might cut into your ankles, making for an uncomfortable and even painful experience on the ice. By better understanding the cause of your particular pain, it's easier to pinpoint the cause to remedy the issue for better-fitting, more comfortable skates.
Poor Fit
Poor fit is a main culprit guilty of creating ankle pain when you are wearing your skates. Both ice skates and hockey skates have higher tops to support the ankle when you are engaging in lateral movement. If that top fits too tightly, the edges of the skate cut into your skin as you move, even if you are wearing thick socks. A professional fitting is imperative in ensuring you get the right fit, since hockey skates should be snug instead of constricting or painful. A perfect fit yields ankle support without cutting into your skin.
Lace Bite
A common hockey affliction, "lace bite" is the result of tying your skate laces too tightly when suiting up for your sport. Skate laces are longer than shoelaces to allow the laces to be tied up the ankle. As you move around the ice, those laces can cut into the skin if you've tied them too tightly around the thinner material of the top and tongue of your skate. While a snug fit helps you maintain control on the ice, laces should never feel uncomfortable or cut into your skin.
Other Equipment
Your skates aren't the only equipment to blame when it comes to discomfort around the ankle. If you're playing hockey, you also need to wear thick socks, which alter the way your skates fit. It's important that you try your skates on with all applicable equipment before you purchase to ensure that you have enough room for your ankles to fit comfortably in the tops of the skates. If you tape your socks to your shin pads, you'll also need to ensure your tape doesn't interfere with the way your skates fit.
Pain Prevention
Getting the proper fit is the first step in ensuring a pain-free skate. Whether you purchase hockey skates, ice skates or inline skates, always have a fitting before you purchase. Choose thick laces to reduce thin laces biting into your ankles. Lacing your skates properly also helps to relieve pain, but only if your skates fit properly in the first place. When lacing skates, loosen all the laces, place your foot in the skate, then tighten each row of laces one at a time until your ankle feels secure and snug, but not constricted or painful for the ideal balance between protection and comfort.
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