My daughter started skiing last year and really enjoyed it and we are planning a 9 week ski trip to Colorado this year. Since as far back as we can remember my daughter would run with her knees together and feet kicking out to the side and when she mountain bikes her knees nearly rub the top tube when she pedals. When she started skiing last year she was a champ at snow plowing but as her skills improved we realized she has a really hard time running bases flat when skiing parallel. Her body naturally wants to place her on both inside edges. Certainly some of this is because she's still learning technique but I think a lot of it has to do with hips and legs. She was frank breach in the womb and her favorite position to sit in on the floor is with her femurs together and both lower legs out at a 90° angle. I can't even sit the way that is most natural and comfortable to her as it hurts me but Indian style hurts her.
We figured she was knock kneed but we took her to an orthopedic specialist and he said no, she has congenital bilateral femoral anteversion which basically means her femurs are rotated forward/in in her hip sockets causing bursitis. When asked if physical therapy could fix this he said no, the only thing that could was a surgery where they cut the femurs and rotate the bone out/back and then put a rod in. We don't want to go down that road nor did he recommend this.
When asked about skiing, the Dr who is in Florida and likely has zero experience with mountain sports medicine said forget about skiing and have her snowboard instead. I'm not opposed to teaching her to snowboard since I did it for years but we are all geared up and the plan is for our family to all ski this extended ski trip. It would be hard to give her snowboard lessons and my wife and son ski lessons at the same time and to be honest, I'm burned out on snowboarding so I didn't even plan to bring one on this trip.
So does it sound like a good boot fitter will be able to help her out thru canting or wedging the soles of her boots? I just bought her a pair of Head Raptors with dual "canting" adjustment as they seemed to have the most adjustment of boots that fit her. I realize I will get the rubber stamp "take her to a boot fitter" advice but that isn't easy where we live. I have a great boot fitter in Breck that I will take her to when we get out there but if it sounds like her issue is bigger than what a boot adjustment could handle, we may need to rethink our plan. The family days will be low-key, just have fun, days so I'm not going to be pushing her but I want her to be comfortable and not in pain the whole time. I'm thinking about having her clip into her skis and playing with the canting to see if she feels a difference in the living room. Any advice or suggestions?
Thanks and sorry this went so long!
We figured she was knock kneed but we took her to an orthopedic specialist and he said no, she has congenital bilateral femoral anteversion which basically means her femurs are rotated forward/in in her hip sockets causing bursitis. When asked if physical therapy could fix this he said no, the only thing that could was a surgery where they cut the femurs and rotate the bone out/back and then put a rod in. We don't want to go down that road nor did he recommend this.
When asked about skiing, the Dr who is in Florida and likely has zero experience with mountain sports medicine said forget about skiing and have her snowboard instead. I'm not opposed to teaching her to snowboard since I did it for years but we are all geared up and the plan is for our family to all ski this extended ski trip. It would be hard to give her snowboard lessons and my wife and son ski lessons at the same time and to be honest, I'm burned out on snowboarding so I didn't even plan to bring one on this trip.
So does it sound like a good boot fitter will be able to help her out thru canting or wedging the soles of her boots? I just bought her a pair of Head Raptors with dual "canting" adjustment as they seemed to have the most adjustment of boots that fit her. I realize I will get the rubber stamp "take her to a boot fitter" advice but that isn't easy where we live. I have a great boot fitter in Breck that I will take her to when we get out there but if it sounds like her issue is bigger than what a boot adjustment could handle, we may need to rethink our plan. The family days will be low-key, just have fun, days so I'm not going to be pushing her but I want her to be comfortable and not in pain the whole time. I'm thinking about having her clip into her skis and playing with the canting to see if she feels a difference in the living room. Any advice or suggestions?
Thanks and sorry this went so long!