Lace bite is an irritation of the
tibialis anterior
The tibialis anterior muscle is a muscle in humans that originates along the upper two-thirds of the lateral (outside) surface of the tibia and inserts into the medial cuneiform and first metatarsal bones of the foot. It acts to dorsiflex and inve ...
and toe extensor tendons.
The medical term for the condition is "tibialis anterior tendinopathy." This irritation, felt on the front of the foot or ankle, is often experienced by
ice hockey players and
figure skaters
Figure skating is a sport in which individuals, pairs, or groups perform on figure skates on ice. It was the first winter sport to be included in the Olympic Games, when contested at the 1908 Olympics in London. The Olympic disciplines are me ...
. It is caused by friction between the tendon and tongue of the ice skate.
Signs and symptoms
Common symptoms of lace bite include:
* Pain, tenderness, and swelling where the front of the ankle meets the foot
* Discomfort with ankle motion, especially when pulling the foot up or turning it inward
* A cracking sound when the front of the foot or ankle is moved or touched
Treatment
Prevention and treatment options for lace bite include:
* Tying the skate's laces outside-in instead of inside-out
* Adjusting the skate's tongue position
* Using a gel pad that covers the irritated section of the foot and ankle
* Icing the foot and ankle after skating
See also
*
Sports injury
Sports injuries are injuries that occur during sport, athletic activities, or exercising. In the United States, there are approximately 30 million teenagers and children who participate in some form of organized sport. Of those, about three m ...
*
Ice hockey
Ice hockey (or simply hockey) is a team sport played on ice skates, usually on an ice skating rink with lines and markings specific to the sport. It belongs to a family of sports called hockey. In ice hockey, two opposing teams use ice h ...
*
Ice skating
Ice skating is the self-propulsion and gliding of a person across an ice surface, using metal-bladed ice skates. People skate for various reasons, including recreation (fun), exercise, competitive sports, and commuting. Ice skating may be per ...
References
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Sports injuries
Ankle