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Has anyone that struggles with heel spur/PF issues had good luck running in Hoka's? I am currently about a month out from Ironman Wisconsin and have been doing very minimal run training due to heel spur problems. I've been doing PT and all the other things I can (ASTYM, needling, iontopheresis, ice, stretching, rest, tape... you name it, I have done it!) and when I do run (following 3:1 ratio of run/walk), I've been wearing Brooks Ghosts. I have a very high arch so that is where I'm a bit concerned about the Hokas. But at this point, maybe I need to trade arch support for heel support. If you do have Hoka's and have had good luck with them, can you wear them with orthotics? Any advice or help would be most appreciated!!
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Carrie2273: Aug 11, 19 6:29
couple of thoughts:
1) In your "treatment" you mention "rest", but yet you are asking what shoe to run through?
2) You mention "high arch" foot - you likely don't need any orthotics
3) Don't worry (in most cases) about a "heel spur" - this is not the issue
4) You may do well in a neutral Hoka shoe (like the Clifton), but don't put an orthotic in it. 95-97% of plantar fasciitis cases resolve in time (though this can be up to a year). Keep tackling the std treatments you are doing (especially the posterior calf - there are several muscles you are working on here) and the needling/ASTYM or whatever that should hurt some. If you have this longer then 12-18 months, seek more specialist help and get fixed to move on.
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Fatigue is biochemical, not biomechanical.
- Andrew Coggan, PhD
I did rest for a good portion of time late spring through most of the summer. It is improving but with Ironman looming, there is some "time on my feet" training I am trying to get in. A lot of it is walking as that doesn't seem to aggravate as much. As a 20+ year runner, I have always had arch supports/orthotics so I'm not willing to forego those. This isn't my first go-around with PF issues and I realize they will resolve over time. I'm just trying to figure out the best cushioning/support to make it through this race.
A month isn't a lot of time to adapt to any new trainer. I think I'm right that the Ghost is a 12mm drop shoe and most Hokas are 4 or 5mm drop. That might put a bit of strain on the calf/Achilles which probably isn't what you want. If you were adamant with trying it then I'd suggest a heel lift but I'm not sure a heel lift with an orthotic is a good idea. Just saying be careful, with most injuries you want to be pretty conservative with any changes.
I dealt with a heel spur issue for many years, trying all kinds of treatments with ultimately no success. Finally, in August of 2018 I opted for surgery to remove the spur. Since the surgery, I have been wearing New Balance Beacons and I have had no issues whatsoever. The benefit of the Beacon, in my opinion, is that the heel counter is soft and the cushioning not as spongy as a Hoka. The soft heel counter has the obvious benefit of not rubbing/irritating the calcaneus. Btw, I also ran in Brooks Ghosts before my surgery.
i'm not sure whether Hokas will help your issue, but have you tried heel "seats" or cups in your shoes? that made a difference for me in the past when I had an issue with pf/heel spurs. good luck!
There are a lot of different "versions" of spurs/pf/bursitis in that area. What helped mine was A) cutting the heel cups out of my Clifton 3s and running with a floppy back of the shoe. B) Moving to the re-released Clifton 1, which doesn't have a stupidly stiff heel counter. C) I've now been running in NB Fresh Foam Beacons, which are pretty soft back there. It's not just a repetitive strain, but also repetitive irritation from heel of the shoes.