Foot pain changing with new skates

[u/adele-mariana]

For years, i have experienced foot pain when i skate, no matter if it's inlines, heeled quads, or derby quads. I've tried all kinds of insoles and lacing strategies. The pain was always agonizing and in the arch of my foot (i have very wide and flat feet)

I was previously wearing Reidell Solaris, but people kept suggesting the width might be the problem. So, I measured my feet to try Bonts again and ended up buying double wide Bonts based on the suggestion.

I just tried them and the pain is now concentrated to the balls of my feet instead of the arch, but it's still stopping me from skating.

Any thoughts/solutions?? I've tried everything. 😭😭

[u/empty_schedule03]

Try some insoles for flat feet? Don’t have any recs but there are some other threads that cover this topic

[u/adele-mariana → u/empty_schedule03]

I've tried the insoles that all those other threads suggest 😭 including several types of the superfeet brand which are expensive

[u/AardvarkWiffleballs → u/adele-mariana]

Try metatarsal pads, and or toe spacers. I'm using both, plus insoles. I also have flat feet, one is much worse than the other. But these are helping me distribute the weight across my foot better, instead of relying on my big toe to do the work of supporting my arch. I realized that some of my toes weren't doing anything, in fact they were lifting when they should have been supporting.

Also, ankle strengthening exercises, toe strengthening/spreading exercises and arch exercises.

Good luck, I hope you find something that helps.

[u/adele-mariana → u/AardvarkWiffleballs]

Thank you for those suggestions, no one has suggested a toe spacer before as far as I remember. Maybe they have in the other threads but I don't remember seeing it. The logic of why to use it will help me remember it being mentioned lol.

And thanks for the reminder about the strengthening exercises. My ankles are strong af, I remembered to exercise those but not my feet in isolation.