Low impact skating? Is it possible?

[Deb in Oz]

Hi skaters! I am an adult beginner ( 38 now and I am just starting jumps and spins - so exciting!) from Sydney Australia. Thank you for your wonderful site, it is very informative!

I have recently begun to suffer again from pelvic instability, which I first incurred having my babies a few years ago. My physio and I think it has been exacerbated by the jumps and falls in skating.

While the physio is doing wonderful things to realign the joints and help me strengthen the core group of muscles concerned, she has told me to stick to low impact sport. She says I can skate, but must keep it low impact.....:??
I understand that means no jumps. But can anyone tell me if skating can ever be low impact? Any physios out there who skate? Skating is not huge here in Sydney and I haven't been able to find a physio familiar enough with the moves involved with skating. My physio works with gymnasts and other sports people and specialises in pelvic and spinal injuries, so I trust her judgement in the field but not her knowledge of my sport if that makes sense.....

Should I switch to ice dance (also as I will never have the flexibility to progress very far in figure skating)? Would that be considered low impact?


So , if anyone can give me some ideas it would be great,
thanks
Deb

[Sessy]

Well I do know that ice dance does seem to be the sport of preference amongst the people of retired age around here at least, and I know some who are over 70 and still skating despite arthritis and other problems. However, one of the added benefits of skating is that it does increase your core muscle strength when done right.

[RachelSk8er]

Dance is great (and not just something for those of "retired age"). Here in the US we also are able to compete interpretive events. There are no jump or spin requirements other than being limited to single jumps only (no axel or higher). We can do artistic/dramatic or light entertainment/comedy (or both)! That way, you're still doing a freeskate-type program but you can pretty much skate to whatever music you want, don't have to jump if the jumps bother you, or if it's only certain jumps you can avoid those. You can still do spins and everything else. My programs for that typically only have one jump because I hate jumping and 2 spins (flying camel and layback).

[phoenix]

Dance is definitely lower impact, with no jumps. You could also consider figures, if you like quiet, contemplative skating and if there's a coach in your area who can teach them.

You might also consider wearing crash pads on your hips to help soften the blow when you do fall. Even the thin gel pads make quite a bit of difference.

Good luck! I admire your perseverence!

[Bunny Hop]

Hello Deb. Greetings from an ex-Sydney sider!

I would also say that ice dance is definitely more low impact, particularly at the beginning stages (which is where I am at). All the early dances are forward skating only, so you don't even have to worry about turns from forward to back. The beginner dances are made up of combinations of edges, cross-overs (well, they're meant to be runs/progressives, but I haven't got there yet!), swing rolls, chasses of different types, cross rolls and the dreaded cross behinds. Can't guarantee there won't be any falls, but early on they at least won't be at any great speed, so can usually be controlled to a certain extent.

Not sure where you are skating, but when we were back in Sydney for Christmas a couple of years back Macquarie seemed to have a strong adult dance community.

[doubletoe]

Ice dance would definitely be low impact because there is no jumping.
Also, the hinged boots (Jackson Pro Flex (http://www.jacksonskates.com/html/frames/frameset-competitive-skaters.htm), and I think there are now other brands, too) are reputed to reduce impact to the knees and hips considerably. Some of those on this board who have them share their experiences in the hinged boot thread (http://www.skatingforums.com/showthread.php?t=27864).

[katz in boots]

Hi Deb in Oz.

Obviously you need to listen to the professionals and your body and not jump if it's going to harm you.

Yes ice dance is low-impact. I do some ice dance, and have been for a about a year. Beginner dances in Australia (Dutch Waltz & Canasta Tango for Elementary 1, then Swing Dance & Fiesta Tango for E2) aren't impossibly difficult and it can be fun (if you can get over the daggy music 8O:roll:). It can give you something else to practise when you're feeling a bit tired or low on motivation.

I skate because I love to jump (I am 49 years old, really fat and with a dodgy knee on my landing leg). I wouldn't say even jumping is really high impact, not compared to what they call high impact aerobics, cos you aren't jumping up & down on the spot over & over.

You glide, you jump, you land, you glide. It isn't landing with a thump on one spot. Your landing leg is straight during the jump and as you land your joints take the force - ankle - knee and it stops there (is that right? you don't let it go to your hips? I read it somewhere on this forum) You land through the toe-pick onto a running edge.

Is jumping really considered high impact????

[Sessy]

Dance is great (and not just something for those of "retired age").

I did not mean to imply. My point was simply that if people ages 70 and up can do it without any health problems, then this young woman should also be able to.

Also I completely second the suggestion of padding up. In your situation, the more padding the better!
Padding really only becomes a problem IF you develop a psychological dependance on it and IF you plan to test and compete. If testing and competing isn't in the question yet, why not pad up? You can always get un-used to it later.

[Query]

Not everyone here agrees with my Short Treatise on the Art of Falling Gently (http://www.geocities.com/grunes/falling.html). I claim gentleness and faster reflexes come through practice.

Padding really only becomes a problem IF you develop a psychological dependance on it and IF you plan to test and compete.

Are the judges really so mean as to downgrade people who use obvious padding? How awful!

Maybe someone could develop a program of therapeutic social skating - padding encouraged.

Perhaps the real question should be: Can having and raising babies be low impact?

[Skate@Delaware]

Jumping, when done correctly where you roll off your toe-pick then land toe-pick first with a soft knee is relatively low-impact. It's the flat-footed landings that are not.

Ice dance is not immune to falls, but I've had worse falls from just standing (yup), back-3's, or the click-of-death. Ouch!

Wear pads anyway. I sometimes wear them when I compete and have never received ANY deduction for wearing them. I need to protect myself after having back surgery. Maybe mine aren't too obvious (thin gel pads) but, meh, I wear them especially when learning/practicing new stuff.

[Bunny Hop]

Beginner dances in Australia (Dutch Waltz & Canasta Tango for Elementary 1, Okay, that's it, I'm waiting until we go back to Australia (if that ever happens) to do dance tests! I can see myself getting those to testing standard, whereas the first dance test here is Novice Foxtrot (easy steps but difficult to do properly at the correct speed) and the dreaded (for me) Rhythm Blues. My chance of passing that are minimal unless the examiners are suddenly struck blind during the cross behinds.

Not that I'm likely to be testing anything in a hurry, as I've only got one thing signed off on my 'passport'. Only eleven exercises to go!:roll:

[Sessy]

Are the judges really so mean as to downgrade people who use obvious padding? How awful!

Maybe someone could develop a program of therapeutic social skating - padding encouraged.

Perhaps the real question should be: Can having and raising babies be low impact?

I've no idea about padding, over here, I've never seen anyone wear it - but I know wearing gloves is forbidden! :x
Except for show-competitions and the like. You know the sorta stuff adults who started as adults and can never hope to get a double axel or something go to. Not to mention over here you're out of the competitional track at 36 anyway.

I suppose if skating a show competition of sorts one could always design the costume to camouflage padding. I know one lady aged 40 or so skated dressed up as Pino from Sesame Street (the big bird) and had good results with it and I very much suspect there was padding underneath that costume.

[Deb in Oz]

Thanks for the answers, everybody. I hadn't thought of wearing padding - I'll have to make some inquiries about where to find it.

I have been told that there is a good adult dance community over at Macquarie. I am skating at Norwest (Sydney Ice Arena) at the moment because it's just 5 minutes from my place. With my kids, getting to Macquarie is a no go until they are all off at preschool & School.

That said, I definitely think having and raising kids is high impact and we should all have protective padding when dealing with a 2 year old!!!!

I am also very interested in the hinged boots. I have now idea where I could try them on over here. Again, more inquiries needed.

Rachel, your interpretative events sound wonderful. I don't think anyone does that here....

Bunnyhop, great to meet you too!

Deb

[katz in boots]

I am also very interested in the hinged boots. I have now idea where I could try them on over here. Again, more inquiries needed.


I know where to get them. Margaret at IceSk8Canterbury is the Australian importer for Jackson skates. Don't know if she has them in stock to try on, but she would be the person to talk to. Those of us from Tassie who have Jackson Proflex hinged boots - 5 of us at present - got them through her.

Read the thread on hinged boots for a wide variety of opinions (including mine) on them.

[aussieskater]

I have been told that there is a good adult dance community over at Macquarie. I am skating at Norwest (Sydney Ice Arena) at the moment because it's just 5 minutes from my place. With my kids, getting to Macquarie is a no go until they are all off at preschool & School.

Hi Deb - if you can ever make it over to Macq, then please do come - we have a strong adult dance and free community happening. There are 4-6 adult dance couples who practise in the coffee club (9-11am) and lunchtime sessions on various days of the week, plus many more than that of freeskaters. And they're just the ones I see on the days I'm there! The coaches are more than happy to teach adults from beginner on up. PM if you want more info.

Back on topic: yes, dance is definitely low impact, but still keeps you exercising - anyone who calls it the "easy option" is kidding themselves and needs to give it a go. Padding is a wonderful thing, and I think there's a coach who is the local dealer for Skatingsafe pads (if they're the ones you're interested in). Again, PM if you want contact details. Alternatively, you can buy the padding from Ebay if you want. (Probably cheaper that way too!)

[Mrs Redboots]

the dreaded (for me) Rhythm Blues. My chance of passing that are minimal unless the examiners are suddenly struck blind during the cross behinds.

Having totally humiliated myself by failing the Level 1 Variation (also Rhythm Blues) a couple of months ago, I sympathise - and am thankful that it wasn't in the test structure when I tested what was then called Novice Dance a hundred (well, ten) years ago!

[Mrs Redboots]

Thanks for the answers, everybody. I hadn't thought of wearing padding - I'll have to make some inquiries about where to find it. You can make yourself pads with mousemats; Husband pads his arm with an elastic support bandage into which he stuffs a kitchen cloth!

I have been told that there is a good adult dance community over at Macquarie. I am skating at Norwest (Sydney Ice Arena) at the moment because it's just 5 minutes from my place. With my kids, getting to Macquarie is a no go until they are all off at preschool & School.There is! Even I know that and I live about as far away as you can possibly get - in London! But I have met some of the dancers from there when they have come to Europe (one couple, who are, I think, retired, come every year now for the competitions - they are seriously wonderful dancers).

[Sessy]

I've also worn pads made of the rubbery (not foamy, more cheese-like) kind of sponges - the sort one would use to wash a car, not your body. Worked like a CHARM.

[hanca]

My chance of passing that are minimal unless the examiners are suddenly struck blind during the cross behinds.



If it is only one bit that is causing you trouble, maybe you should ask your coach to bring the judge a coffee exactly at that point. :lol:

Sometimes I suggest that we could create fog so that the judge wouldn't see what is going on on the other end of the rink. (It is apparently quite easy to make the fog at our rink, it did happen a few times by accident, though not during a test). Sometimes I feel I need not only a blind judge, but also a deaf one. :)

[Bunny Hop]

If it is only one bit that is causing you trouble, maybe you should ask your coach to bring the judge a coffee exactly at that point. :lol: :D Good plan!

[Deb in Oz]

Well, I'm determined to get over to Macquarie now....

I will have to look at the logistics again.

As for padding.... I may have to reinvent my cloth nappy pattern LOL!!!

I have sent an email to the Canterbury Ice shop about the hinged skates. They have invited me to go over and talk to them and get fitted up. Now that is a way from my place and with the kids a bit in the too hard basket, but I will arrange it if I have to. Thing is, she wouldn't email me any prices.....

Can any of you Aussie skaters give me a ballpark figure for the hinged boots here? I need to know if they are out of my league.

Ta
Deb

[katz in boots]

Can any of you Aussie skaters give me a ballpark figure for the hinged boots here? I need to know if they are out of my league.

It's a bit tricky because it probably depends a lot on the exchange rate. The boots are made in Canada. There are two models of the Proflex, so depends which you choose. Also depends whether you need any modifications to accommodate extra wide feet etc.

Can't give you a figure that I'd be convinced was anywhere near accurate. I can however tell you that they are likely to be $1000 AUD + . And then there's blades .....:roll:

However, you do have to consider how many pairs of skates you are likely to buy in your skating lifetime, and how important comfort is for you.

edit: actually, for the basic model it may well be less than $1000 AUD. I got the more expensive version. I can say that IceSk8Canterbury were very good about keeping the price as low as possible.

[Deb in Oz]

Yes, well. I am not in the thousand plus market!! I know I will get years of use out of them, but with a family of 4 kids I just can't justify such a one off expense on something that is not a 'need' for myself. So, I guess I'll skip the hinged boots. I may ask about the Jackson Dance models though, if they are closer to $500 than a thousand.....

Thanks,
Deb