Orthotics for skates

[altsk8ter]

Where do people get orthotics for figure skates? I've got ones for athletic shoes but they obviously won't fit in my skates because they are too thick and rigid. Are there any online custom orthotics services that anyone has used before?

[manleywoman]

Go to your PT, get fitted for narrower orthotics.

[the old gurl]

Go to your PT, get fitted for narrower orthotics.I got plastic orthotics at a GoodFeet store -- they fit both in my skates and my other shoes.

[Kristin]

....Ernie Bastian from Wolverine Orthotics does a really nice job on orthotics for many of the skaters here in the Detroit area. He custom makes them just for your feet (takes a mold of your foot & fits them into your skates for you). I got mine about 4 yrs ago, periodically go into his office for a little bit of maintenance on them, but they have been lifesavers for me & have enabled me to hit the outside edge of my blades!

You can use the skating orthotics in your regular shoes too and some insurances even pay for them.

Ernie is a certified orthotist and is located in Novi, Michigan.

-Kristin
industrial_girl_2000@yahoo.com

[skaternum]

altsk8ter, are the orthotics in your athletic shoes custom or off-the-shelf? This will tell you where/what to get for your skates. If they're custom, you need to go to whoever fit you for those. If they're off-the-shelf, try to find them at good shoe stores. The orthotics for dress shoes will usually fit in a skating boot.

[pinkjellybean]

I have custom orthotics and my doctor kept my skates to make them fit my skates. Most places you get regular orthotics should be able to makes ones to fit your skates. The only difference (other than being narrower) is that the orthotics for my shoes are full length and the ones for my skates are only half.

[jazzpants]

Mine were made along with my skates and the orthotics are internal to my boots (AFAIK, I can't remove them from the skates...)

[stardust skies]

Most good boot companies will make them for your skates- at least for customs, I'm not sure if they'd make them for stock boots. I think they are better options than going to an orthopedist because a) they're usually cheaper and b) they will be designed to fit your skates exactly. Orthopedists usually don't have that much experience fitting orthotics into figure skates. Boot makers do.

I thin off the shelf orthotics are pretty much as useless as not wearing anything at all. They don't have support specifically where YOU need it, and might have support where you don't. I mean, do your feet pronate or do they go the other way? You can't fix both problems with the same off the shelf orthotic. If you have a serious foot problem, get them professionally done, it's worth it. If it's a really minor problem, I would advise against any orthotics in your skates at all. They cause discomfort at times, and they won't really change anything, especially if you don't skate that often.

[altsk8ter]

altsk8ter, are the orthotics in your athletic shoes custom or off-the-shelf? This will tell you where/what to get for your skates. If they're custom, you need to go to whoever fit you for those.

I have custom orthotics for my athletic shoes. I got them over the internet where they sent me a foot impression kit and a questionaire to fill out. They were cheaper than what was offered at a PT, and they eliminated the pain I had when exercising. However, they don't offer specific orthotics for figure skates so I wanted to check if there were other places that specialized in figure skating orthotics.

do your feet pronate or do they go the other way?
They pronate and I get metatarsalgia. I might try the OTC metatarsal support pads that you can stick to the existing insoles.

Thanks for the suggestions!