By: Matthew Fazekas, MD, FAAP
As young children work their way through local
learn-to-skate classes, some may find that they really love it and want to skate competitively. Figure skating can help children build their balance, strength, flexibility, fitness, focus, and artistic expression. As with any sport, though, injuries can happen.
A competitive skater can skate anywhere from 3 days a week to twice a day. Falls, poorly-fitted skating boots, and repeating the same motions again and again without enough time for recovery are some of the common reasons for injury. The good news: many figure skating injuries are preventable.
Here is an overview of common overuse injuries in youth figure skating from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP).
Common Overuse Injuries in Youth Figure Skating:
Blisters and calluses. Hardened skin and painful, fluid-filled bumps can form from friction. Pressure points may be caused by improperly fitted skates or boots laced too tightly. Using donut-shaped padding can help in irritated areas.
Lower leg skin irritation. To help avoid chafing at the back of the leg from the boot rubbing, use padding or wear silicone sleeves. Another option is to modify skates to include a soft, "closed-cell" dense foam material to replace part of the boot's upper back.
"Lace bites." Tight laces can cause a skin rash and pain in the tendon along the top of the foot and ankle. Boots may be too stiff or not deep enough for the shape of the foot. Consider reworking the lacing by adding midline lace hooks or alternating lacing patterns to keep the tongue in a neutral or slightly inward position to prevent outward movement of the tongue. Silicon sleeves and padding can once again be helpful.
Strains & Sprains
Ankle sprain. Sudden twisting or rolling the ankle can overstretch the ligaments, tough bands of connective tissue that keep the joint together. To help avoid a
sprained ankle, make sure boots have enough upper support and are not worn out. Ankle strengthening, balance exercises, and allowing time for previous ankle sprains to heal lower the risk of re-injury.
Bunions. A painful bump may form at the base of the big toe as the bones change position from wearing tight boots. Bunions at the base of the "baby" (outside) toe are called "bunionettes." According to research by the U.S. Figure Skating Boot and Blades Subcommittee, roughly 57% of skaters develop bunions. The bony bump can get bigger and begin to crowd the smaller toes. Make sure boots have good arch support and aren't too narrow, especially in the toe area.
"Pump Bump." Haglund's deformity, often called "pump bump," affects nearly half (49%) of figure skaters at some point. It's often caused by repeated irritation from the heel slipping and rubbing against the back of the boot when boots that are too wide in back. Check the fit and add padding if needed.
Hammertoes. When the foot moves around too much inside the boot, skaters may naturally curl their toes to keep from slipping. Around 18% of figure skaters develop hammertoes, which can cause pain, swelling and a claw-like appearance of the toe. Prevention includes making sure boots are not too big or too wide.
Jumpers Knee (patellar tendonitis). Repeated leaping motions may cause pain in the front of the knee and around the patella (kneecap). Prevention includes limiting high-impact repetitions, proper stretching and a strengthening program of the thigh/hip/core muscles.
Bursitis. Bursae are fluid-filled sacs, and those around the foot and ankle joint can become irritated at pressure points. Two common types in figure skating:
Malleolar bursitis (swelling at the inner part of the ankle bone). Stretch out boots at the sides and protect the ankles with silicon or gel sleeves. Use donut-shaped padding around the bony part of the ankle, but not directly over it.
Retrocalcaneal bursitis (swelling of the bursa at the back of the heel bone). Make sure the boot is snug enough in the heel to prevent too much movement. Add padding if needed.
Tendonitis. Tendons are the tough bands that attach muscle to bones. They 