Arches on feet killing me???

[BrittanysDad]

And to think I logged in tonight to look for a thread JUST like this one!  What a great forum!

I think part of my problem may be the balancing and working my feet more than my center of gravity; trying to hold on with my talons instead of my balance.  I was also born severely club-footed, but, it didn't stop me from fencing, soccer, the Marines, or fire/rescue, so, I'm guessing that it's an "enter ear" issue.  If I read this out loud and let it enter my ear, I might actually pay heed to it the next time I'm out.  

But, it does bring up something else...
Someone mentioned trying to stay on the pad.  I noticed that when I wear booties, I have great traction: logical.  When I don't, I tend to slip off quite a bit, or at least slip to a point of my feet being in the "wrong" place and losing my balance.

I was wondering if there was a combination "cure" for this: thicker pad with better traction.  I think I really like the idea mentioned earlier about the traction pad in pieces on the board, and giving your feet better circulation and molding to something.  Any ideas?

Sorry, don't mean to try and hijack the thread, just figured it's along the same lines.

Thanks.

[tautologies]

My feet feel great these days.  Now if I could just get the wind to stop putting that nasty chop on the water.

take out a kite on the windy days...almost perfect overlap...

[watermelonman]

Anyone tried Fitflops?  Some testimonials on their website fitflop.com say they're good for plantar fascitis, knee pain.

[BrittanysDad]

Took the advice of moving my feet around on the board.  Or, at least, moving them.

After about 5-10 minutes, my arches were killing me, then, I thought about this thread, and started to move them.  Mostly the heel-toe motion that we used to practice in fencing.  Actually moving around on the board is still a bit awkward, but, I'm sure I'll get the hang of it soon.

After I started doing this, I spent about an hour on the board, in the ocean, with so little foot pain, by the end, I forgot why I was moving my feet.

Thanks for the advice!

Jes

[Boludo]

I guess there's a lot of us with that issue.  In my case, I am totally flat footed so I'm almost used to having shooting pain in my flat arches.  I guess I can't call it an arch if it just sits flat on the ground.  Good thing though is mine only gets bad every once in a while now.  Still not fun.

[enden]

I'm flat footed too and my arches ache doing the first 30 min. I have to stop and rest for 5 min. then I'm usually good for awhile. I'm gonna try a pair of Dr Scolls arch supports in my Vibram KSO and see how that works.

[JC50]

This may sound crazy, but I've noticed a significant difference in foot-ache between two boards, one that has full sheet of foam padding (the standard stuff found on most boards) and one that I cut up the sheet into little 1"x1" blocks and spread them around. There's a huge thread here about peoples designs with those bits of cut up foam. Anyway, perhaps an acupressurist can chime in, but my feet rarely cramp when on the board that has bits of foam for grip, all else (surfing/paddling time) being the same. Could be similar to those beaded seat covers; I've used them in my last truck for long hauls and they work. FWIW. For the most part, foot-ache is not too much of an issue with me but after a long break I started paddling again recently and got it a few times and noticed a difference.

[DavidJohn]

I wear Crocs on most long flat water paddles and I can paddle for hours and my feet stay comfee..  

They're soft and spongie and have some arch support.. They're cheap and worth a try.

DJ