In a ski boot, ice skate or other “fixed foot” winter sports footwear, custom sport footbeds and orthotics can dramatically improve fit, performance and comfort. Custom footbeds and orthotics are full length inserts made to your personal foot shape. They provide support for the foot, helping to control excessive pronatory movement which can cause great discomfort in rigid footwear. People who have a tendency to “over pronate” (a majority of the population) can benefit greatly from this additional foot support. For those people whose feet are high arched and rigid (supinators), they can also benefit from full length orthotics or footbeds which transfers impact load to the entire surface of the bottom of the foot.
Q: Who needs custom footbeds/orthotics in their ski boots, snowboard boots and ice skates?
A: Just about everyone can feel the difference.
During the mid stance phase of walking (when the foot is in total contact with the ground) the foot is in a mobile adaptive or flexible condition. It is supposed to "pronate" to reduce shock to the leg, knee and back. The foot is in the mid stance position when it is "fixed" inside a ski boot, snowboard boot or skate. It is because the foot is flexible inside a rigid structure that issues of foot pain and loss of turning efficiency come into play. In a skiing and skating the foot must bear a load up of to 3 times your body weight for an extended duration. Fit problems occur as the foot is forced to pronate (flatten) causing pressure of the foot against the outer shell. Typically this pressure occurs at the base of the little toe (sixth toe syndrome), the navicular and medial malleolus (inside ankle bones), and heel. Also, because the foot is flexible, the muscles and tendons of the foot are "fighting back" to resist the pronatory movement (flattening of the arch) causing aching in the arch and mid-foot. The obvious cure for this foot pain is to provide more architectural support, better matching the topography of the foot.
Q: Why don’t my expensive ski boots, snowboard boots or ice skates give me the support I need?
A: Because they were not made to your feet.
Everyone’s feet are different and manufacturers design the insole and shell to fit the greatest variety of feet possible. If they were to make the footbeds in the boots too supportive it would "offend" some peoples’ feet and therefore they would not buy them. This is also why manufacturers tend to make their footbeds and liners very cushioned, to initially feel comfortable to the greatest variety of foot shapes. The problem with this approach is that if the liner is too soft there is a corresponding loss of performance as the foot moves inside the shell. On the performance side, because custom footbeds / ski orthotics reduce pronation there is a more direct and efficient transfer of pressure from the lower leg to the ski edge. As the knee passes over the mid line of the foot, leverage to the edge is maintained by supporting the foot so that energy is not lost to the foot flattening. You can demonstrate this to yourself by standing with your shoes off and knees flexed over the toes. As you move your knee to the inside, you will notice the foot flattening as you start to exert pressure on the inside. This flattening of the foot translate to a loss of the effective lever arm of the lower leg to the ski edge.
Q: What should I look for in winter sports "fixed-foot" orthotics / footbeds?
A: Results
There are a number of different ski orthotics / footbed systems available in sports shops and clinical settings. The most important component in selecting the right orthotics / footbeds, is the choice of the molding technician and fitter. Make sure the technician has an intimate understanding of the physical dynamics of your chosen sport and has hands-on experience with sport specific orthotic/footwear integration. A good technician will construct the orthotics / footbeds to match your foot shape, support the foot in the most efficient position and insure that the materials are supportive enough to provide control. The SportSoles orthotics / footbed systems use a semi-weight bearing method of capturing the shape of the bottom of the foot. Material is heated in an oven and the foot impression is taken by standing on or pressing the foot into a "pillow". This provides a very natural model of the bottom of the foot without creating too much arch.
Q: Will I need cants or additional stance alignment if I have custom orthotics / footbeds?
A: Maybe yes, maybe no.
The need for canting is greatly reduced by providing proper foot support while aligning the knee between the first and second toe. This is the optimal position of the knee just before exerting pressure.. However, for some people it will not be possible to get the knee into this position if they are excessively bow-legged, knock-kneed or have ankle inflexibility. In these cases it will be desirable to have canting to help put the athlete into the most efficient position possible.
Q: Are ski, snowboard or skate orthotics / footbeds transferable to other boots and footwear?
A: To other footwear of the same type, yes; to other footwear, probably not.
If your feet have stopped growing, your orthotics / footbeds should transfer to your next pair of boots or skates. Some minor trimming or adjustments may need to be made. The orthotics / footbeds for may also work in your in-line skates. Footbeds designed for skiing, snowboarding and skating will not work well in other footwear because they have been specifically designed to perform in mid-stance, not the full gait cycle (heel strike, adaptive mid stance, toe-off). They will most likely be too narrow and the materials too stiff. Using your winter sports orthotics / footbeds in shoes that flex at the forefoot will likely cause them to crack.
Q: Should I try on new boots or skates with my ski orthotics / footbeds?
A: Absolutely
Your orthotics / footbeds can dramatically change the way your new equipment fits. With the foot supported, you may find that you will fit into at least a half size smaller. This is because with proper support, the foot will not lengthen as it does when it pronates (flattens). The foot will also not be as wide if the mid-foot is supported.
SportSoles Products and Pricing
Alpine Ski Orthotics (about Ski Orthotics)
You don’t need to compromise comfort for performance. Our sport orthotics for ski boots are specifically designed to enhance boot fit while increasing power transfer to the ski edge. Depending on application, each SportSole full length orthotic or custom footbed is molded form a Kydex® or Polyplast shell with cork or EVA foam fill and laminated top cover. $149/pr.
Snowboard Orthotics (about Snowboard Orthotics)
Soft boot snowboard orthotics and snowboard footbeds are designed to provide comfort and performance for free riding and carving. The Kydex® or Polyplast shell is covered with a 3mm perforated top cover for warmth and cushioning. $149/pr.
Nordic Skiing Orthotics (about Nordic Skiing Orthotics)
Designed for telemark, skate or classic racing and touring boots, SportSole orthotics for x-c boots are light, warm and comfortable. Nordic skiing orthotics have a deep heel pocket with rear foot stabilization, providing improved power and more stable glide. The top cover is full length. $149/pr.
Skate Orthotics (about Skate Orthotics)
Comfort and boot fit are enhanced with our orthotics for ice skates. The skate orthotics are extremely low volume yet supportive and designed to fit your specific foot shape and boot. Slim shell with thin full length top cover. $149/pr.
The SportSoles Orthotic Molding Process
The SportSoles Orthotic Impression Stand is uniquely designed to simplify the molding process utilizing the A.C.T.™ pillows. Once the subtalar (midfoot) joint has been aligned for optimum balance, the knee cups gently holod you in position for accurate molding/casting. The plumb bobs identify the alignment of the knee over the metatarsals providing both a reference point and diagnostic tool, achieving your best balance point for your given sport application..
Step 1: We have you step onto the pillows taking care to locate the feet in the appropriate position with the ball of the foot at the transition of the pillow and the heel centered in the back.
Step 2: The molding technician will loosen the knobs on the sides of the cross bar and position the bar slightly below the plane of the knees.
Step 3: The knee cup knobs and center the cups are adjusted to the knees and retightened. You will bend your knees so they fit securely into the knee cups. The technician will grasp the subtalar joint with one hand and the knee cup knob with the other. We will loosen the knob and slide the knee cup medially and laterally while feeling for subtalar alignment. Once a balanced alignment is achieved the knee cup knob is tightened.
Step 4: The plumb bobs are suspended and you will be checked for alignment. The plumb bob should locate between the first and third toes, normally over the second. A lack of symmetry may suggest that subtalar alignment should be rechecked or that perhaps there is a leg length discrepancy or other anomaly that you may wish to consider having evaluated to by a medical specialist.
Step 5: The heated molding/casting medium is placed under one foot at a time and allowed to cool/cure. The molded foot impression will then be fabricated into a finished sports-specific orthotic by SportsSoles and carefully integrated into the chosen footwear.
