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The difference between skiing and snowboarding resides mainly in the fact that, in snowboarding, the feet are affixed in a perpendicular or angular position from one another on the board; in skiing, the feet are affixed and parallel on the skis. The feet are practically statically aligned in a certain dorsiflexion forcing the knees to bend. The foot movement in the ski boot is principally pronation and supination, with gradual weight balancing from the heel to the forefoot. These movements are different from jogging or walking. The boots are rigid for skiing and more flexible for snowboarding. Because of this, leg injuries (fractures) have almost disappeared from skiing but reappear in snowboarding. The rigidity of the boots, however, causes injuries to the knees and hips. To understand the type of injuries found in sliding sports, one must understand the importance of the boot.
Ninety percent of foot injuries are to the forefoot, caused by the pressure on the big toe at the end of a turn. Depending on the surface, icy, powdered snow or other, the number of injuries can increase or decrease. Hard surface and bumps require shock absorption using flexible and absorbent materials.
The goal to wearing plantar orthoses is to maximize the comfort, limit the impact caused by vibrations from sliding on hard snow and mostly, to control the edges of the skis when entering and exiting turns. Accidents at the end of the day are more inclined to happen if there is unnecessary fatigue.
Orthotics help reduce the risk of injuries, make the most of one’s physical capacities and optimize biomechanical performance.
Many injuries, in skiing and snowboarding, also occur to the upper limbs. It is possible to wear adaptors to protect the affected articulations while carrying out a sport. Orthoses can be moulded to the pole handle or to the shape of the gloves or mittens, mostly to prevent injuries to the thumb or trapezo-metacarpal articulation. To better support and distribute weight, the inner boot lining can be entirely moulded, using new technically superior material, for both comfort and stability.
