PRESSURE ON TOP OF THE INSTEP

As soon as you tighten the  shell buckles , your toes start to feel numb and you get cold feet

Solutions

1. Make sure yoiur skiboots  match your foot size and foot shape
2. An inappropriate buckle tighteness on the instep  will affect the blood flow to the upper body by reducing its volume. Consenquently the toe area  will start to go numb  , and cold feet symptom will appear in no time. Therefore everyday yuo’ll have to fine adjust the pressure on the lower part of the shell. Use the micrometrical buckles and select the settings on which you’ll have an  EVEN   pressure on the top of the instep .In some cases, we may modify the ratchet length. After lunch, as the outside temperature has increased, fine tune your buckle adjustments
3. Internal tongue modification . TOTAL FEET is equipped with a professional shoemaker sewing machine.This enables a lots of liner or tongue modification in order to make your skiboots more enjoyable without having to switch the liners to a custom made

The shell volume  match your feet, but after an 1 hour of continious skiing, you feel a cramp under the in side section of your foot . You have to loosen the buckles, shift your foot around in the skiboot, inorder to ease this uncomfortable sensation.

Solution :

The shell might be a bit too close to your foot on the internal section of the skiboot. This is common to most performance and racing skiboots. This low volume last is desigbned  to provide the skier a precise edging and rsponsiveness 

1. Get  a proper pair of custom made footbeds that will match your arch providing a natural support such as a guardrail. This must not be a corrective support in this area
2. Shell fitting  modification of the inside section by expanding sligthly this area : the arch is a muscle, this will provide extra space for the muscle to function properly

With the standard foot , usually this pain is located  on the little toe ( behind the fifth metarsal head). A painful outgrowth when applying pressure. Development of a  exostosis .

This a very common problem affecting skiers who are all day long in their skiboots such as  skipatrollers, instructors racers of all level. In the most severe cases, the skier must stop putting his skiboots on  for a determined period from 15 days to a month. Quite annoying for a ski instructor or a racer when the season is in full swing.

1. Poorly fitted skiboots  ( too big, not enough lateral room on the 5th metarsal head) ski instructor using  high performace skiboots while teaching snowplowing to beginners
2. wrong shell size

This doesn’t appear right at the beginning, but usually just after the Christmas break, they are in pain …….
Solution :

1. Get a pair of custom  insole  fitted properly to match your foot. This will spread evenly your bodyweight pressure on the whole length of your foot, provide the  arch  non corrective  support and redritribute the pressure on the tranversal arch
2. Shellfitting ( local shell grinding + shell expanding ) creating a cavity in which the injured area won’t be in conflict with the shell while skiing and edging
3. ​Liner modification : 2 ways :  Modification of the existing liner by openning up the liner, adding a oring padding and sewing it back . Making a custom made liner ( usually a thermo molded liner  with extra  protective padding before molding and then modifiy it to relieve the pressure if necessary)

• 1-Travail de la coque ( fraisage ponctuel de la coque + déformation sur la zone) afin de créer un espace où la zone douloureuse ne sera pas en conflit avec la coque
• 2-Modification du volume chaussant ( évidement du chausson, on enlève le rembourrage, remplacement par une mousse plus souple )  remise en forme du chausson+ couture
• 3- Confection d’un chausson sur mesure en protégeant le pied dans la zone douloureuse avant moulage

Il existe de nombreuses  solutions para médicales , mais voici une recette de grand -mère 100% naturelle qui m’a été donnée il y a 6 ans, que je recommande à toutes les personnes  après avoir modifiés les chaussures qui  sont affectées par ce problème. Le retour est excellent , presque miraculeux.C’est aussi recommandé  à titre préventif

Bain de pieds (ou mains) au céleri  3  fois par jour, faites un bain de mains ou de pieds pendant 20 à 30 minutes dans :
– une décoction chaude de céleri-rave avec ses branches (250 grammes environ pour 1 litre d’eau froide que vous ferez bouillir pendant une petite heure); après ce bain, séchez immédiatement les parties atteintes avant de les envelopper dans un lainage.
Au bout de trois jours, vos engelures auront miraculeusement disparu. Mais le côté encore plus extraordinaire de ce traitement (et pour lequel aucune explication médicale rationnelle n’a pu encore être donnée) c’est qu’il y a également neuf chances sur dix pour que, par la suite, vous ne souffriez  plus d’engelures

Pensez à hydrater vos pieds Le soir apres votre douche ou bain , prenez 2mn afin de réhydrater la peau et capiton plantaire. Tout au long de la journée enfermées dans la chaussure de ski , ils souffrent plus que vos mains dans les gants.
Total Feet recommande la crème PEDI MED  des laboratoires Pierre Fabre

As I previously mentionned, the flat foot is a weak foot structure. While skiing this laxity affects the stability of the muscular strucutre of the lower part of the foot . The  transversal arch  ( which runs from the big toe to the little toe) is subject to opposite forces than the ankle. The foot set itself in a corkscrew motion
Just as for the inside ankle bone, most skiers will get their skiboots expanded , but the problem remains, even if you ski all day long with the lower buckles in an open position ( it increases!!!) .

Solutions:

1. Get  a proper pair of custom made footbeds that will match your arch providing a natural support such as a guardrail. This must not be a corrective support in this area. The orthotics will  provide your foot a equally distributed weight pressure avoiding the forefoot to collapse while edging
2. Shell fitting in the forefoot region. A laterall expoansion of your shell will  relief the pressure on the external arch  ( which runs from the 5th metatarsal to the heel) and allow the tranversal arch to perform as naturally as possible while skiing.
   Warning: we must expand the shell as naturally as posibble to match your feet and not turn your shell into a wide shoebox….

As previously described , every foot is unique, but when it comes to skiboots, the foot has to accomodate itself to  the skiboot shape and the rigours of the shell stifness during your ski holiday , no matter if it’s -20° or +10°
This section  will help you to learn more about your feet , toubleshooting your particular problem and the solutions TOTAL FEET can provide to make your feet happy…
Reminder
Our feet  are the only  segment linked  from our body to the ground. They support entirely our body weight  and enabling  us to move around .In a standing position , the foot is linked to the grou nd through 3 points :

Heel : supports 50% of our body weight
First metarsal head ( behind the big toe) 30%
Fifth metarsal head ( behind the little toe) 15%

Each foot has 3  different arch designed to guide our feet through the different contact phase on the ground

 The internal arch: runs from the heel to the big toe : its function is to provide balance throughout the gait, absorb  and  match the terrain
The external arch: runs from the heel to the little toe : its function is to provide guidage to the foot structure thoughout the  whole gait  walking ,or running
The tranversal arch:  runs from the  first to the little toe : its a propulsive arch enabling the forward toe off motion and to propel from one foot to the other

Each foot works autonomously relying on the informations registered by thousands of sensors located on the plantar surface of your foot , enabeling  the lower limb and foot  muscles to adapt  instinctively ( proprioception)
In layman’s terms the foot functions just as an universal joint on your car and the foot’s arch as your shock absorbers and springs

I’m knocked Knee, can’t keep my skis running flat

A typical  flat footed problem : the lower limb laxity has an effect on the whole  lower limb muscles chains. TOTAL FEET will compensate this  natural difficiency ,realign the skiboot in order to provide the foot the best natural contract on the ski surface.

Solution 

1.  Make a pair of custom made footbeds that will provide the natural stance your foot requires in the skiboot
2. . TOTAL FEET is equipped  with the latest technology  in terms of canting assessment and skiboot modification. Your footbeds will be corrected on  the rearfoot section . bottom section of the shell will be individually routed or wedge canted  from 0.25° to 3°

The high arched foot has a shorter achille tendon limiting the forward flexion and knee work

Solution 
Shell fitting : grinding the heel cup and lower section  will unease the pressure around the achille’s tendon. A  5-8mm heel wedge maybe added on the foot board to reduce the strain of the tendon while skiing

Just as the flat foot problem : the lower limb stiffness has an effect on the whole  lower limb muscles chains. TOTAL FEET will compensate this  natural difficiency ,realign the skiboot in order to provide the foot the best natural contract on the ski surface.

I’VE GOT THICK CALVES, FINDING SKIBOOTS I CAN CLOSE THE UPPER BUCKLES  IN MY SIZE IS….HOPELESS

As all the skiboots have been made to fit the”normal feet” and calves to a certain extend, people with oversized calves are handicaped with skiboot fitting .let’s have a closer look to  the different options by gender

Women: The calve’s structure is different than the men’s: The muscle volume is more consistant in the lower section up to 5cm above the ankle bones. This is why most of the women’s skiboots wil have a lower collar and around the   top section to allow the calves muscles to “ breathe” while skiing. In most cases, the side pressure  on the calves when buckling up the top  skiboot is soo strong, the women end up skiing with the top buckles open or with oversized skiboots in order for then to be able to fit their calves , the ankle isn’t held properly .This has a direct impact on your ski performance: lack of ski control, absence of power edging
Solutions for fitting  thick women’s calves

Total Feet will make a pair of custom made skiboots to match your feet. This relys mostly on modifying the upper collar of the skiboot.

1. Make the top collar match your calve in terms of shape and support.The top collar will have to be grinded, trimmed, and the top buckles changed for longer ones
2. A liner change might be necessary for a thermo custom made liner with an overlapping closure avoiding the tongue uncomfortable side compression

Solutions for fitting  thick men’s calve
Generally , men’s either have a  hypertonic calve muscle requiring a greater volume without compressing the calves muscles and creating cramps while skiing or then just a voluminous calve. In both cases , the approach and work solutions will be similar to the women cases

DURING THE  WINTER SEASON, MY FEET TEND TO GET NUMB. I CAN’T FEEL MY TOES

This is the  major  complaint  for customers during their ski holiday. They try to find a warmer  holiday destination alternative. But equipment and technology has drastically improved enabling them to get back on the slopes no matter if the thermometer is below 0° or during spring skiing
Let’s have a closer look to the causes of cold feet  in skiboots

Mechanical :  This is the most common. The skiboot is inappropriate to your foot shape or too big.The shell creates a pressure onto your foot by a pressure point often on top of your instep  ( overtighting the buckles ) reducing the natural blood flow, making the lower forefoot section to turn numb . This pressure point could be also on the lower section under the inside ankle bone . The liner padding causing a pressures restricting the blood flow from the lower leg to the

Natural :The human body must constantly regulate it’s internal body temperature ( lungs, liver, brain , genitals ) to a stable temperature of 37,5°. The outside environement will have an impact on our  body thermo regulation : sweating in a warm enviromment , or in a cold environement, the blood flow reduction to our extremities ( fingers, toes, ear lombs, nose ): the capillary vessels in the end section of our limbs are contracted limiting the blood flow . The supply is then requited to supply a minimal flow= life without heat . That’s why we get cold feet.This is known as Raynaud’s phenomenon a discease affecting mostly women
Remedy to cold feet in ski or touring boots

1. For starter’s get the right shell to match your foot shape.The shell must allow a nice fitting ywothout any pressure bpoint that could affect your blood flow. This can be modified by shell work such as shell exoansion or grinding.
2. Total Feet will choose the proper shell to your feet and skiing level specifications . It will be then modified  in the in step  or heel section to match your foot structure
3. A thermo footbed will be custom made to your feet in order to improve the thermal isolation on the lower  foot section
4. In some cases , a custom made INTUITION liner will provide the best insulation and fit around the foot and an unrivalled comfort  in the toe room.

Nowadays, technological improvements mostly in the NICAD and Lithium  batteries and cbles and connections have made heating much more reliable in  skiboots : integrated heating elements on your  ski orthotics or integrated in ski socks. You’ll be able to enjoy skiing no matters what the outside conditions are and keep your feet happy no matter if you’re a occassionnal skier, or ski instructor, ski patroller. This comfort can be the same sensation as comparing this with your car’s A/C. You’ll be asking yourself how you’ve managed without until now…

How does it work ?

A large oval heating element provides effective anatomical coverage of toes The Hotronic FootWarmer Power Plus  batteries offers three base level settings for comfort and warmth maintenance. A fourth setting offers a quick, extra blast of heat when needed.Simply slip the heated insoles into your footwear and plug them into the rechargeable Battery Packs. Thenfine tune the temperature setting to 1, 2, or 3 for comfort and warmth maintenance.

FOOTWARMERS by HOTRONIC have established as the leading brand in footwarmers over the years.I’ve mounted my first footwarnmer in 1979 in Canada, and relied on them ever since. The new generation will allow a 10000 recharging cycles and a 3 year manufacture warranty.

Heat Socks by LENZ

A  true reliable  innovation  The heat element and connectors are integrated seamless in the sock . A small Lithium battery is clipped to the top cuff of the sock: no more loose cables external batteries. The socks are machine washable and can be bought seperately. This sytem is well used by racing skiers who have to stand long hours in the racing suits  durin g training sessions or during the freezing cold  winter days.
You will enjoy this , if you’ve looking for a simple easy to use heat system in your skiboots

TOTAL FEET  recommends the  LENZ Rcb Lithium 1200 set  220,00€