The Best Prevention Tips for Onewheel Foot Fatigue
Onewheel Foot Fatigue
If after an exciting Onewheel ride, you feel your feet aching and cramping, there is no cause for alarm. You are most likely experiencing Onewheel foot fatigue, and it is a common occurrence. Foot fatigue is something that every Onewheel rider will experience. Foot fatigue can give you some apprehension when you feel like going Onewheel riding. Not to worry, I outlined some causes and prevention tips that could help you. First, what causes Onewheel Foot Fatigue?
What Causes Onewheel Foot Fatigue?
Even as a professional skateboard rider or hoverboard rider, stepping on a one-wheel will activate some new muscles in your feet that will certainly give off some reactions after the ride. Riding a Onewheel requires the frequent use of the feet and lower leg muscles, which will inevitably cause some discomfort especially when done over a long period. During the ride, almost all 20 muscles in your feet will be in full use in a specific action known as isometric action. Because these feet muscles are rarely used in your normal day-to-day activities, they tend to get fatigued easily.
In isometric action or exercises, the muscles can exert strength without bending a joint or getting short. In Isometric exercise, although the muscles are not in motion, they are still exerting energy, and fatigue is inevitable.
How To Prevent Onewheel Foot Fatigue
Some steps can be taken to prevent a rider from experiencing foot fatigue or reduce the effects of fatigue. These steps include;
- Practice: You know how when you start exercising, your body almost breaks down and you feel like you were run over by a truck, and then after doing that for a week, you are back to feeling normal. This is exactly how it is with foot fatigue. By training the muscles in your feet to get used to a little stretching, over time your feet get used to the exercise, and the pain gradually phases out. As you build your feet endurance, the fatigue disappears.
- Take constant breaks: When you feel the muscles in your feet start to ache, it might be a sign that you should call it a day. However, if you do not feel satisfied, then you can take a mini-break, stretch your feet and let them relax, then continue when you feel better. As you continue to ride daily, your endurance time will lengthen. You may need to start with smaller rides and build up to long rides to reduce how quickly you get sore feet.
- Relax your feet while riding: New riders tend to grip the one-wheel board with their feet while riding. Try flexing the muscles of your feet as you ride. Spread your toes, and occasionally wiggle your feet. This movement will get the blood flowing properly and prevent fatigue.
- Try out some products: Some types of shoes can help beginners prevent fatigue. Once you have trained your feet using these shoes, you can then ride without them.
- Carving: Carving is a special motion technique where riders keep their feet flat on the board and lean into different positions depending on the intended direction of the rider. Carving can be helpful to take some pressure off the foot muscle because, in carving, other muscles are engaged. This will get more blood circulating to your feet region, and give your feet the time to rest and prevent fatigue.
- Fishbones: Products like fishbones are effective for preventing foot fatigue. You can buy them and try them out on your next ride.
- Tires: Some riders have reported that lowering the PSI in the Onewheel tire has helped with foot fatigue. Reducing the tire pressure helps to absorb some of the vibrations caused by rough terrain and can make a huge difference. Try lowering the PSI just a little bit to see if there is enough softness for your feet.
Feet fatigue is normal and happens to all riders. By following the above tips, you will be able to prevent Onewheel foot fatigue and improve your riding experience. Have you ever experienced foot fatigue while riding your Onewheel?
Onewheel Footpads
Many Onewheel riders find that aftermarket accessories make for a more enjoyable ride. You can find both a front pad and rear footpads for your Onewheel that have the perfect concave shape to make foot fatigue a thing of the past.
If you decide you want to replace your stock footpad, there are a number of concave footpads that will help achieve the greatest reduction in foot pain.
If you are in the market for here are some of the most popular options:
- OneTail Flair and Extended Concave Footpad – The Onetail line has a couple of different options for extra durable rear footpads made from unique hard maple wood that will fit with your Onewheel GT, Onewheel XR or Onewheel Pint. The Onetail’s also are compatible with Flightfin’s Flightfender. The Onetail Flare’s concave shape has a mellow concave blend that will provide extra comfort when riding gnarly trails. It also comes with Craft & Ride grip tape.
- Kush Lo Footpad from The Float Life – Made with durometer urethane, these footpads offer superior comfort and control for riding your Onewheel. These mellow concave blend footpads come with special cut TFL grip tape already applied, plus an extra sheet of regular cut TFL grip tape. They have been tested with a wide range of rider weights for the ideal amount of comfort.
- Kush Hi Footpad – This footpad has a more aggressive concave than the original Kush pad which allows your foot to lock in for rough rides. This will give you extreme control as you take your rides to the next level. They have also rounded the edges at a fat bevel for a final touch that will provide maximum comfort. For riders who ride with the rear foot completely back, they have also added a sweet little lock-in pocket to the rear kick tail.
If you are interested in more footpad options, check out our favorite Onewheel footpads here.
Onewheel Foot Fatigue Q&A
For some, Onewheel foot fatigue is common while others have no issues with it.
If you are experiencing foot fatigue try some of the tips above to see if that relieves the fatigue, especially in your back foot. If you still find that you are experiencing fatigue, you may decide it’s time to switch out your stock pad for a footpad with a more fluid concave design.
While the stock footpad that comes with Future Motion’s Onewheel will do the job, you may find that the most comfortable footpad may be the one you need to buy. There are many options out there as aftermarket accessories become more popular, so keep a lookout for new additions to the footpad market.
If you have a question, comment, or advice for us and our reading regarding Onewheel foot fatigue let us know in the comments section below.
Ride Hard, Ride Safe
Graham and The Board Sports Team
