Q: Why don't my expensive ski boots give me the support I need?
A: Because a ski boot is made to fit thousands of
different feet - not just yours! Every person has a unique foot and therefore manufacturers of ski boots tend to design a liner
that is very cushioned, to initially feel comfortable to the majority of foot shapes. The problem with this approach is that
if your boot liner is too soft this will then correspond to a loss of performance as the foot moves within the boot.
On the
performance side, because ski orthotics reduce pronation there is a more direct and efficient transfer of pressure from the lower
leg to the edge of the ski. As your knee passes over the mid line of your foot, leverage to the edge of the ski is maintained
by supporting your foot so energy is not lost to the foot flattening out. 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 that the foot flattens as
you start to exert pressure on the inside. This flattening motion translates to a loss of effective lever arm of the lower leg
to the ski edge.
Q: Who needs custom footbeds/ski orthotics in their ski boots?
A: When your foot is in mid stance phase of walking,
the foot is in a mobile adaptive or flexible condition. The foot is suppose to "pronate" to reduce the shock to your leg, knee,
and back. This is the location the foot is in when it is "fixed" within the boot. It is becuase the foot is flexible
inside a boot that issues of pain and loss of efficient turning capabilities come into play. In a ski turn, the foot bears a
load of 3 times your personal body weight. Proper boot fit problems arise as the foot is forced to flatten causing pressure
of the foot against the boot shell. Generally, this pressure occurs at the base of the little toe, inside ankle bones,
and heel. As well, because the foot is flexible, the muscles and tendons of the foot are "fighting back" to resist the
flattening of the arch causing the skier pain in the arch and mid-foot. The obvious cure - provide more support for the foot
in the boot.
Q: What should I look for in a ski orthotic?
A: First and foremost you should have a trained technician. A
certified technician will construct the ski orthotic to match your foot shape, support the foot in the most efficient position and
ensure that the materials used are supportive enough to provide control. Most ski orthotic systems use a semi-weight bearing
method of capturing the shape of the bottom of your foot. Material is then heated in an oven and a foot impression is taken
by standing on or pressing the foot into a "pillow". This method provides a very natural model of the bottom of the foot without
creating too much arch. It is not desirable to have the arch too high as this will tend to throw the knee to the outside making
it difficult to get leverage on the ski edge. After the ski orthotic has been molded to your foot, there needs to be materials
added to insure stability of the orthotic in the ski boot.
![masterfitu[1].gif](masterfitu[1].gif)
Q: Are ski orthotics transferable to other boots and footwear?
A: Ski orthotics can be used in different ski boots
but not in regular footwear. If your feet have stopped growing, your ski orthotics should transfer to your new ski boot.
You may need to trim and/or slightly adjust them. Footbeds that are designed for skiing will not work well in other footwear
because they will most likely be too narrow and the materials used will be too stiff. Using your ski orthotics in regular shoes
that flex at the forefoot will likely cause them to crack.
