About a month ago, my foot starting hurting like hell after I ran (not so much during). It was as if my foot were split in two, with the fault line running left to right across the bottom of foot starting just behind the ball of my foot. Doc took xrays, diagnosed “stress reaction” based on some metatarsal inflammation (didn’t know they could do that) and said stay off it. I did. In the meantime, I got fitted for custom orthotics (God bless health insurance!). Just picked them up yesterday. I’ll be in the “break-in” period for a while before I actually run in them, but I’m wondering if I need to get different shoes? I’ve been in Asics Nimbus for the last 2 years and am a big fan (the injury was my fault, not shoe’s). Should I get a different “type” (Neutral, cushion, motion control, etc…) of shoe now that I have orthotics? I think the Nimbus are essentially neutral, so I don’t see a huge problem, but I thought I’d ask the collective and see what you guys think. Thanks in advance for the comments! If you’re REALLY interested in how the injury came about, or how I think it came about, read below…
-whineyass
The birth of an injury: for the longest time I was a heel striker. I have bad PF in my feet, and my heels were absolutely killing me on a daily basis. So, I thought I would try to work my way towards mid-foot striking. Snagged a pair of newtons and immediately noticed a difference. Running was nearly pain-free, and I saw a slight increase in speed output. This wasn’t due to Newtons, so don’t blast me for plugging them I went shoe shopping and saw the Nike Pegasus on sale. I ran in those in high school a long time ago, so I got nostalgic and bought them. I think that was my fatal flaw. Not enough cushioning for my feet during the “transition to mid-foot striker” period. Anyway, that’s my theory.
Had a similar experience that you describe. Before I got orthodics I wore the Kayanos, now that I’m running with orthodics I switched to the Gel Nimbus and the transisition has been literally painless. Good luck
As a good sports doctor once told me: " Don’t expect an orthotic to do all the work". Find a shoe that is supportive and fits with your orthotic flat and snug inside the shoe. The Nimbus is only for cushioning, no support. Those shoes always feel like pillows under your feet. That may or may not be what you need. Did your doctor have a recommendation? Go to a reputable running shoe store. Try on a couple of shoes with your orthotics in them. Then ask the sales person to watch you run in them. The shoe that allows correct gait is the way to go. Give yourself some time to get used to them.
I was prescribed orthotics for flat feet/ plantar faciitis/ knee problems, and when I got my new $300 orthotics I looked at them and questioned how this was going to help my foot become stronger like the osteopath had indicated. He said wear them in every shoe you put on and never go without. There was no improvement in any of my symptoms, just added inconvenience, until I cast the orthotics aside, and took the opposite approach - minimalist shoe for running, Dunlop volley or barefoot for weekends and big old broad, flat shoe for work.
Now I have really strong feet, no longer a collapsed arch, no plantar fasciitis, and a great new low impact running style.
This was just my experience though. For you I would definitely recommend a flatter shoe without the arch support, for putting the orthotics in. Too much of an arch lift will be unnatural and probably uncomfortable
The idea behind moving towards the Pegasus shoes was exactly what you described. However, I think I neglected a few things and shot myself in the foot I’m willing to give the orthotics a shot for a while.
The “reputable running store” component is the hard part. I’ve been running since high school, and up until a few years ago, I chose my shoes. I got a fit by the folks at Road Runner Sports a while back, but was sans orthotics. The issue there is that those folks SEEM to have a superficial knowledge of things. They produce output based on very specific parameters and input, and they get uncomfortable/unsure if you don’t fit a particular category. A store called “The Princeton Running Company” store is nearby–it’s a specialty store that I THINK is associated with Bob Kennedy (he showed up to this store, and I think he has a chain with the same name in IN). Again, I worry about how much folks are actually trained. Thanks for the input!
Yes, good expertise is hard to come by. You might call the Princeton store and ask a few questions. You never know, they may be a good resource.
It can’t hurt to call and ask.
I went shoe shopping and saw the Nike Pegasus on sale. I ran in those in high school a long time ago, so I got nostalgic and bought them. I think that was my fatal flaw. Not enough cushioning for my feet during the “transition to mid-foot striker” period. Anyway, that’s my theory.