Credit score: Pixabay/CC0 Public Area
Popularized within the 2009 Drew Barrymore movie, Whip It, curler derby is without doubt one of the quickest rising sports activities for ladies worldwide—significantly within the US.
Whereas this curler speed-skating competitors was initially established as a marathon race within the Thirties, the trendy, kick-ass, punk-inspired, model started within the early 2000s.
Gamers put on four-wheeled “quad” curler skates and necessary protecting tools, together with a helmet, mouth and wrist guards and elbow and knee pads—however foot accidents are widespread. These typically embrace bruising, torn ligaments, damaged bones and toenail accidents—just like the one featured within the picture beneath.
Since curler derby is a rising sport, podiatrists like me will probably see extra foot accidents from gamers, together with bruising beneath the toenails and misplaced nails. Misplaced toenails are a typical damage amongst these athletes because of the frequent fast turns and stops required throughout occasions.
Many curler derby athletes put on tight skates to enhance responsiveness throughout fast turns and stops. Free becoming boots can even improve the chance of ankle accidents, equivalent to sprained or torn ligaments and damaged ankle and foot bones.
Beneath stress
It isn’t in any respect unusual for folks to have one foot longer than the opposite, which is able to improve stress within the curler skate, significantly on the large toenail. Silicone toe protectors might be worn to cut back this stress; nevertheless, they could additionally scale back the quantity of accessible room within the toebox—entrance of the shoe.
Applicable curler skate match is crucial to stop such nail accidents and, very like different sports activities, sneakers which can be too quick or too lengthy could result in recurring nail points, equivalent to “runner’s toe”—often known as a subungual hematoma—a painful, blackened toenail attributable to repeated trauma.
Skates with a deeper and wider toebox could scale back the chance of damage. The entrance of the shoe may additionally be “punched-out” following mild warming of the fabric. This may be achieved professionally with the help of particular stretchers. In line with the “do-it-yourself” ethos of curler derby, although, skaters could use the rounded finish of a brush deal with to softly stretch the sneakers over the large toenail space.
As well as, unfastened curler skate laces go away the ankle unstable and extra prone to roll, resulting in strains, sprains and even damaged bones. Agency lacing secures the foot firmly inside the curler skate, additionally decreasing the potential for friction and the foot sliding ahead inside the curler skate, avoiding nail trauma.
Foot damage prevention
As a podiatrist, I counsel sufferers to make use of protecting dressings earlier than enjoying sport, put on cushioning socks to soak up a number of the pressure, and preserve toe nails quick with common trimming. Some curler derby athletes have been recognized to use superglue or nail glue to re-attach lifted nails—however this apply is just not suggested. Supergluing misplaced nails may result in irritation, an infection and additional damage.
Preserving nails quick and making certain good curler skate match and agency lacing are important to stop foot, ankle and toenail accidents. Whether or not a curler derby participant or not, when you do expertise foot and ankle points, why not go to your pleasant native podiatrist?
Later, skater.
Offered by
The Dialog
This text is republished from The Dialog beneath a Inventive Commons license. Learn the unique article.
Quotation:
Extra persons are enjoying curler derby. Here is what that may imply for foot well being (2025, February 20)
retrieved 20 February 2025
from https://medicalxpress.com/information/2025-02-people-playing-roller-derby-foot.html
This doc is topic to copyright. Aside from any truthful dealing for the aim of personal research or analysis, no
half could also be reproduced with out the written permission. The content material is supplied for info functions solely.
