Advice: Skate Tieing Issue?

[Malarowski]

Hey,

Recently I noticed my leg just above the ankle hurts quite a bit while skating because I seem to be leaning into it hard with the top of the skate. Is this because they are tied too hard around the top and too loosely around the ankle? I did not use to have this issue, but my heel felt loose the last two three skates even though I am tieing them the same for the last while. Generally I have the toes loose and then tighten around the fourth eyelet all the way up.

Any advice on this would be appreciated.

 

[Pez68]

Get some Elite Hockey Lace Bite Gel Pads. This seems to get worse as the padding in the skates is broken down more and more. Those gel pads are awesome. I use one for the inside ankle bone on my right skate because the padding has worn a bit and it is uncomfortable after a while.

 

[Malarowski]

It's higher up than that. Mid-shin roughly, basically where the boot ends it pushes into my leg when I lean into it. I also noticed that I seem to push into it when pushing with my skate going forward. Basically all pressure rests on that, instead on the sole of my foot.

 

[Pez68]

It's higher up than that. Mid-shin roughly, basically where the boot ends it pushes into my leg when I lean into it. I also noticed that I seem to push into it when pushing with my skate going forward. Basically all pressure rests on that, instead on the sole of my foot.

I've never seen a hockey boot that comes up mid-shin... Where is it hurting in relation to the skate? The very top lace? Is it hurting on the side or the front?

 

[Malarowski]

Yes, very top of the boot. Mid-shin is a bit exaggerated, I guess. The area about 3" above the ankle-bone. Sides of the leg hurt.

 

[Pez68]

Inside or outside, or both? I had that for a while too, but never figured out what caused it, or why it stopped hurting. I would say try some padding there. It could be bursitis, as the skates rub against there quite a bit. Do you wear anything that covers that area at all, or is it just bare skin?

 

[tarheelhockey]

The tightness might be a factor, but soreness in that part of the leg is common among infrequent skaters. If you're relatively new to skating, or just don't do it often, you may not have built up muscle tolerance to the amount of stress that you're putting on your lower leg and ankle muscles. That can be exacerbated by having a less than perfect center of balance on your skates (which is normal if you're not skating frequently), which causes you to lean over your edges a little too much and therefore put even more stress on your ankles and lower legs to keep you upright.

The good news is, it's not a big deal. Just keep skating and it will go away.

 

[Jarick]

Is it outside like the skin or inside like the muscle?

 

[Malarowski]

Is it outside like the skin or inside like the muscle?

Definitely muscle.

The tightness might be a factor, but soreness in that part of the leg is common among infrequent skaters. If you're relatively new to skating, or just don't do it often, you may not have built up muscle tolerance to the amount of stress that you're putting on your lower leg and ankle muscles. That can be exacerbated by having a less than perfect center of balance on your skates (which is normal if you're not skating frequently), which causes you to lean over your edges a little too much and therefore put even more stress on your ankles and lower legs to keep you upright.

The good news is, it's not a big deal. Just keep skating and it will go away.

I assumed it would have to do with me just getting really into it and only recently started skating intensively for more than one hour in one go, wanted to check though whether that is a common issue due to user error when lacing up. I'll try to tie them a bit better so the heel is locked in tighter and will report back.

 

[nystromshairstylist]

It's higher up than that. Mid-shin roughly, basically where the boot ends it pushes into my leg when I lean into it. I also noticed that I seem to push into it when pushing with my skate going forward. Basically all pressure rests on that, instead on the sole of my foot.

You are tying the top eyelets too tightly, and the tendon on the front of your shin will become inflamed to a point where you will not be able to skate:

http://www.sportsinjuryclinic.net/s.../tibialis-anterior-tendon-sheath-inflammation

When tying your skates, tie them snugly all the way up, then before tying the knot, flex your foot all the way forward, take up a bit of the slack, then tie the knot at that point.

You need to give your leg room to flex forward when you skate, and tying them the way I've described should still allow the skate to lock in your ankle. If it does not - the skate is not a good fit.

Also, the laces should be tied outside in, not inside out like a sneaker or dress shoe.

 

[Malarowski]

Spoke to the coach yesterday and it seems to be a form issue combined with inexperience (or lack of numbness ) and a stiff skate. I ordered the Bunga Anklepads for the time being. It is isolated to the outside of my right leg at this point, bending my knee a bit more should do the trick in the future, I just tend to lean into the skate currently to catch an edge instead of bending in deep and adjusting the entire body to it.

For those who might be interested though, I redid the lacing to this: http://hfboards.mandatory.com/showthread.php?t=1232843

It is a beauty. I had the top relatively loose all the while my foot was snugly in the skate.