Run Run Away » nike running » shoes for the achilles afflicted
shoes for the achilles afflicted
Question:
I’m looking for shoe suggestions. I’ve been plagued with a sore right achilles since August, I’ve been trying to return to a normal running regimen but haven’t made it yet. Very frustrating: I’ve gained 10 pounds, lost conditioning, and am in danger of becoming an irritable old codger. I’ve been wearing Nike Air Structure Triax shoes since May, I don’t think they’re the cause of the problem as I was wearing a similar Nike shoe before them for several months. They could be part of the problem certainly, who knows? Has anyone found a particular model of shoe to be good for achilles problems? Does anyone have experience with heel lifts and achilles problems? Thanks for your help! Rich Treakle
Response:
[...Achilles problems...] I’ve been wearing Nike Air Structure Triax shoes since May, I don’t think they’re the cause of the problem as I was wearing a similar Nike shoe before them for several months. They could be part of the problem certainly, who knows?
The Air Structure Triax was fine for my Achilles, but hell on my shins once I switched to a midfoot strike (combined with 180 steps/min. during runs). Has anyone found a particular model of shoe to be good for achilles problems?
You’re looking for a shoe that’s not too cushy in the heel, preferably combination-lasted (board rearfoot, slip-lasted front), flexible in the toe, and that doesn’t have a heel area that rubs on your Achilles tendon. Does anyone have experience with heel lifts and achilles problems?
They do provide a lot of relief. I used the cheapo foam ones from Eckerd drugstore. One of the best things I ever did was switch to the 180 steps/minute rhythm that has been discussed here, which ended my overstriding and changed me from a heelstriker to a midfoot striker. I also worked on keeping my toes flexible instead of digging at the ground with them at toe-off. That helped tremendously. You’ll have to rest until the pain subsides, but when you start again, consider working on your form so that you’re not heelstriking, which seems to place more strain on the Achilles tendon, and you should also avoid overstriding (i.e., having your foot contact the ground ahead of your center of mass. Your lower leg should be perpendicular to the ground at footstrik= e, and your leg should be bent at the knee). Regards, Chris BeHanna behannaatsyldotnjdotnecdotcom Senior Software Engineer NEC Systems Laboratory No, I don’t want unsolicited commercial email. Princeton, New Jersey See http://www.users.fast.net/~behanna/nospam.html (609) 734-6144 Warning: reply address deliberately munged to foil= spammers.
Response:
One of the best things I ever did was switch to the 180 steps/minute rhythm that has been discussed here, which ended my overstriding and changed me from a heelstriker to a midfoot striker. I also worked on keeping my toes flexible instead of digging at the ground with them at toe-off. That helped tremendously.
Thanks for the feedback Chris. Another testimonial for the list!!! It was the same for me. Once I realised that all *efficient* runners use this gait I knew I had to make the change if I was ever to realise my potential as a runner. If anyone is interested in this topic, my (unfinished) web page is available at: http://www.cermav.cnrs.fr/home_pages/lakin/run_form.html Miles — Cut the 0_fin~SPAM_ to email back to me