Over the past 11 years, I’ve been dealing with Achilles issues on and off. For the first time since 1999, I’ve had an entire year without Achilles pain (touching wood).
I’ve tried to look at what is different, and there aren’t many things that have changed. I’m older (I guess that shouldn’t help, so we can rule that out), bike position is the same (still with the seat a tad to high), cadence is higher (that may help a bit)…
But somehow, I want to believe that the main factor is the fact that I don’t walk around in flip flops all the time anymore (because the #%$^$^$&&&@@ summer hasn’t arrived yet in WA). I noticed that with flip flops, I tend to curl my toes to keep them on. In Australia, it was flip flops all the time (no winter) and Achilles issues came any time. In El Paso, I never had issues during the winter, even when running up to 120mi a week…always arrived around August…after several months in flip flops, added to a lot of running.
So, I’m certainly not trying to prove that this was the (sole) culprit, but has anyone experienced something similar (or even is anyone realizing it’s true for them also?)
Flip flops (or shoes with negative heels or the new “shape ups”) put extra stress on the Achilles via 2 ways. First, just the lower heel pulls more. 2nd, your subtalar joint will pronate more in flip flops (and the achilles does have some action at the subtalar joint, not just the ankle joint). This frontal plane eversion puts further stress on the achilles.
Now, in most people, this likely isn’t much of an issue. But with your running and/or cycling mileage, this might be just enough to tip it over the edge. Anyone can get achilles issues (I just got over my first bought this early spring after 30 years of running).
I have been having achilles problems now for about a year and a half. I never wear flip-flops so that isn’t a factor for me. I honestly can’t figure out what is the root cause of my issues. I was recently forced to take 5 weeks off of running to recover from reconstructive facial surgery. This actually made things worse and the other achilles even started hurting as well. Now that I am back to running it has gone back to the same old nagging pain just on the left side. I guess the moral of the story is that wearing flip-flops may have had something to do with your issues but it could be a completely different underlying issue.
Where do you stand on the whole barefoot running/forefoot striking trend?
My wife is reading “Born to Run” at the moment and is convinced that modern supportive running shoes are evil. I’m not ready to throw away my Stability trainers and start running in Huaraches yet.
Question to all: What types of footwear would be the best to wear for everyday use? Does anyone have any suggestions on what types of shoes would be the best for business casual dress at office?
Where do you stand on the whole barefoot running/forefoot striking trend?
My wife is reading “Born to Run” at the moment and is convinced that modern supportive running shoes are evil. I’m not ready to throw away my Stability trainers and start running in Huaraches yet.
I have many patients, and even myself, do some strides and barefoot runs - and I have done so for years (way before McDougal’s book). Many people come away after reading any book (or movie) with an acute thought process, so keep that in mind. This is NOT anything new at all.
Modern running shoes are not “evil”, but modern training methods are We have more money (to buy things from Newtons to Brooks Beasts to Vibram 5s - all of which are best), more immediate success expectations, etc. So much comes into play, it is hard to digest and there is some “science” in each camp. Most running shoe stores are pretty misguided tough in my opinion (as are many in my field as well) since most just see things as they are trained to do. Not unlike any other field.
I wonder the same thing. I have now graduated to chronic achilles tendonitis. It seems to be worse on days I remember to concentrate on forefoot striking. I was thinking about trying to switch to vibrams in the off-season, but now I am second guessing it.
Is it possible that you have changed other things, like terrain where you run and cycle, seating position in your office, places where you walk, diet, etc. As as scientist, you know that you could run a simple little experiment: wear your flip flop again and see what happens. OK, I guess you are not ready to try it out, and as long as it works (whatever ‘it’ is), good for you!
Over the past 11 years, I’ve been dealing with Achilles issues on and off. For the first time since 1999, I’ve had an entire year without Achilles pain (touching wood).
Heeheeheehee
But all childish jokes aside, I agree about the flip flops. I haven’t been wearing my flip flops much at all this year, and my achilles’s haven’t been bothering me nearly as much as they used to.
I’m sure there are other factors (my calves aren’t quite as tight as they used to be), but the flip flops are probably one contributing factor.
There may be some merit to that. I’ve had achillles injuries for about 10 months and I attribute it to forefoot running.
The problem with forefoot running and triathletes is your calf / achilles is doing a ton of work for 2 sports, cycling and running. I don’t think cycling is nearly as bad, but it can tip a sore achilles over the edge.
I am actually icing my achilles as I type this as I am currently going through my first every achilles issue.
It came last Sunday when I tried my new pair of zoot running shoes for the same time, which are much more minimal than my Nike Vomero’s.
I was trying to think of what I did differently that weekend and the problem is there were a number of things - I did my longest brick workout of the season, purchased a new pair of shoes which are more minimalist, etc.
What I felt may have done it is 1/4 of the way through the first run, sockless, I felt a blister coming on and tried to alter my stride in such a way that I wouldn’t rub my heel on the back of the shoe and ended up running in a weir stride that resulted in issues…
The only other thing I did was get my wife’s foot pod for my garmin and change my stride to be much shorter to try to pick up my cadence from around 85-87 to 90+ strikes…Maybe this impacted it…Too many damn variables to isolate it this time!
Really, I don’t know though, I have never in my life had issues with an achilles and it was out of the blue. Hoping that once I get over this one that it doesn’t come back…always worn flip flops (actually brand is sole, no pun intended) and love them and never had issues…
I wouldn’t be surprised that, with the kinda volume you do when you aren’t injured, that padding around all the time in flip-flops might indeed be the straw that is breaking the camel’s back, in your case.
Meanwhile, I can’t let these gems go by…
I’ve had an entire year without Achilles pain (touching wood).
You must be really glad to be injury free! “When I think about my heels, I touch myself.”
bike position is the same (still with the seat a tad to high)
Dude, you need to check out the new Trek - it would be PERFECT for you!!!
We have more money (to buy things from Newtons to Brooks Beasts to Vibram 5s - all of which are best), more immediate success expectations, etc. So much comes into play, it is hard to digest and there is some “science” in each camp. Most running shoe stores are pretty misguided tough in my opinion (as are many in my field as well) since most just see things as they are trained to do. Not unlike any other field.