Or I should say “new shoe on the market” Brooks Adrenalin been my go-to the last few years but now ramping up the mileage and it rearing it ugly head again, if something is available that’s better than the Brooks I’m open to change. Yes I stretch and do eccentric heel drops, been to two different PTs for treatment with limited results.
When I had Achilles tendinitis earlier this year, I bought Hoka Arahi’s and they seemed to help. It went away but I can’t say that the Hoka’s did it.
I switched back to Saucony after it went away and have had no issues.
Last year I was hobbling out of bed, hobbling out of my car and barely able to run because of Achilles tendonitis.
I sought help from PTs, MDs and podiatrists for mine. Best results, by far, was from EPAT, an ultrasound-like treatment that basically traumatizes the tissue and stimulates blood flow and healing to an area that usually is low on blood flow. It took three treatments at the podiatrist and it was like magic. You’ll probably have to look around for this - this was a podiatrist in Austin who treats a lot of runners so his patient population is more athletic and action-oriented than the norm.
Also, I was generally told to avoid stretching due to the inflamation it can cause. As far as shoes, I was advised to avoid anything low drop. They said the higher drop helped out the Achilles more.
Hope you can find good relief.
-Doug
I recently had some issues with the Achilles. My pain was where the tendon joints the calf muscle. 4 weeks of PT and switching from my 0 drop Altra’s back to a pair of Brooks Ghosts (12mm drop) I had at the top of my closet and no major issues. I’ll be staying in Ghosts until my race season is done then trying to slowly work back into the lower drop shoes again. Don’t know what started it as I had been in low drop shoes for some time, but once I got that inflammation started, I could not recover. Not taking any chances while I have a race to build up for though.
Or I should say “new shoe on the market” Brooks Adrenalin been my go-to the last few years but now ramping up the mileage and it rearing it ugly head again, if something is available that’s better than the Brooks I’m open to change. Yes I stretch and do eccentric heel drops, been to two different PTs for treatment with limited results.
Have you tried stopping running for a while to see if that helps? I had to completely stop running for three months. I tried PT and actually felt like it made it worse. Also, one of the worst things you can do for this type of injury is to run through it. Tendons have limited blood flow (at junction of muscle and tendon origin is greatest) so they can be very slow to heal. Chronic achilles tendonitis is a dreadful diagnosis
The best shoe is getting your achilles issue resolved by addressing the root cause.
Did the EPAT a few years ago and really thought that was the answer, ramped up the mileage slowly and over a three month period the nodule and pain returned
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I stopped running for 14 weeks, and while it was “better” didn’t feel it did much good. In fairness, I still road 4-5 times a week during that time and that set it off too.
I’m globally tight as it is, so that doesn’t help
Higher heel to toe drop should relive pressure on the rear kinetic chain, but if shoes didn’t cause your issue they are unlikely to solve it.
I stopped running for 14 weeks, and while it was “better” didn’t feel it did much good. In fairness, I still road 4-5 times a week during that time and that set it off too.
I’m globally tight as it is, so that doesn’t help
I tried Graston technique for my Achilles. Also felt a knot. Along with rest, and the painful Graston work, the knot slowly disappeared. That was when I slowly started back to running
Going to a greater heel to toe drop shoe will help. If you’re an overpronator you want to get arch supports, if you don’t already have them or orthotics. I really like the Sole insoles. Do calf and feet strengthening and stretching exercises as much as possible. Ball rolling with a softball through the calves will help release tight calf muscles and fascia. Deep tissue massage from a sports therapist will help too. Good luck!
I’ve been struggling with it past two years, then had 5 dry needling sessions this spring and so ling as I warm up properly, no more issues. My Adidas Supernova has also helped and doesn’t seem to aggravate it.
I second this. I moved to a high stack shoe ( Mizuno Wave Enigma) and my problem problem eventually went away. It takes time. A long time.
Hindsite 20/20 running in Newtons and low stack Hokas was not a good fit for me.
Or I should say “new shoe on the market” Brooks Adrenalin been my go-to the last few years but now ramping up the mileage and it rearing it ugly head again, if something is available that’s better than the Brooks I’m open to change. Yes I stretch and do eccentric heel drops, been to two different PTs for treatment with limited results.
I am no doctor but in my marathon training, I have injured my achilles 3 times in less than one summer. They were basically grade 1 to almost grade 2, but the reason I reinjured it was because I came back too soon. I finally just sat out 4 months to completely heal and then I used ultrasound daily to speed the recovery.
The one thing I can say, an Achilles injury is not something you can run through and heal properly. I feel you should really stay off the feet until it is completely healed. Tendons take a long time because they have little blood flow and if you keep running on it, you will get more scar tissue which is not as flexible and can end up getting worse
I ran in the Brooks Ravenna for years and eventually came down with Achilles tendinitis. Not blaming shoes.
Foam rolling-a lot- has helped. Dave Scott highly recommends this as a treatment. Softball rolling pinpoints it better.
Currently running in Hoka Ariah. Seems to helps some. I know the Ravenna has a better drop, but it seems I land harder on the heel and it annoys Achilles more?
I suffered from achilles tendonitis for two years and tried pretty much everything (stretching, foam rolling, heel drops / Alfredson protocol, rest from running, PT…) with little or no help. Ran previously with Asics Gel Cumulus as I need a neutral shoe with lots of cushion. I think the drop in that shoe was 10-12 mm.
I had read some positive reviews about Hokas so decided to give them a try. I was a little sceptical about them due to the 4 mm heel drop (ended up with the Challenger ATR 3) but now after a bit more than 250 km in them, the achilles pains are gone almost completely. Haven’t done anything other than normal stretching and calf rolling at the same time so I attribute the pain alleviation to the new shoes. So definitely a thumbs up from me for trying out different shoes to help with your problem.
I had PRP done twice before it finally started getting better. I rotated through a bunch of shoes but that never really fixed it for me. Of course once it was finally started feeling a lot better I had to have my knee scoped ha, so I’m not back to running.
I would suggest staying in the same functional profile and change the volume of shoe under your foot. Since you are running in a shoe that is 10-12mm offset it would lead me to more volume under your foot. The Arahi or Gaviota fit that thought process. They also have the rocker tech that no other shoe on the market has. This takes much of the foot function out of the mix. Instead of flexing through the shoe like you do in your adrenaline you are rolling over the shoe. This should ease the pressure on your Achilles.
I hope your find the fix. Achilles issues suck.
I would suggest staying in the same functional profile and change the volume of shoe under your foot. Since you are running in a shoe that is 10-12mm offset it would lead me to more volume under your foot. The Arahi or Gaviota fit that thought process. They also have the rocker tech that no other shoe on the market has. This takes much of the foot function out of the mix. Instead of flexing through the shoe like you do in your adrenaline you are rolling over the shoe. This should ease the pressure on your Achilles.
I hope your find the fix. Achilles issues suck.
I agree with this personally. I was running in the Clifton 3’s for years and never had an issue. (or so I thought) All of a sudden I came up lame on an easy run. This was a few weeks ago. I switched to the Gaviota, which is Clifton soft, but has more stability. Changing that and other therapy that I am doing has worked for me so far. I will be returning to running next week and we shall see.
–
Scott.
Thanks all for your thoughts and suggestions!
Lots to consider. Wife even said to try acupuncture. IDK, that seems like snake oil