Help! Achilles pain & tennis shoes !!!

[LuvCardio]

[font size="1" color="#FF0000"]LAST EDITED ON Nov-06-02 AT 02:02AM (Est)[/font][p]Hi all!!!!!! Can you believe that I have another question???? I am feeling like that is all I do is ask questions, questions, questions!!!

I am wondering if anyone has good advice on shoes and achilles pain? I recently (last week) bought a pair of Saucony running shoes and they weren't cheap I bought running shoes because the guy at 2 different stores told me they were best because of the cushion you get from a running shoe versus aerobic or cross-training shoe. He also said they were better for achilles tendons because of this same reason. Do any of you know if there is any truth to this????

I am having some pain behind my ankle in the achilles. I notice it most when I do step after a few days of intense step and am starting to feel it more and more often. Tonight I did circuit max and really noticed the lack of stabiilty support with the running shoe. It provides much less lateral support. However, the cushion is great!

Does anyone know what type of shoes are best for Cathe type workouts? I own almost all of her vids and do most all of them regularly!!! I workout on carpet in my house. My favorite is step and wt. training so I wonder if maybe I am overtraining on the step.

Also wondering if anyone has any ideas for decreasing achilles pain/damage. Should I be stepping down more with whole foot or ball? Would an insert underneath the heal help?

I am wondering if maybe I should return the shoes and get a pair of cross trainers or aerobic shoes?

Any help you can provide will be sooooooooooo much appreciated!

-Pammer

 

[kimyenchu]

I don't use running shoes for aerobic type workouts because I like the support that aerobic shoes provide. I find running shoes to be rather flat! I don't even like them for running. I have Mizuno running shoes. For the workouts at home, I have ordinary Reebok trainers. I do my workouts on carpets too and these shoes are fine.

I know I haven't really helped you, but just thought I'd let you know what I prefer.

I have only ever owned one pair of running shoes and I don't like them, to be honest, not even for running.

Yen

 

[getnfit@38]

Could your achilles pain be due to lack of flexibility in that area? I know I hear Charlene Prickett talk all the time about that being an important area to stretch and strengthen.

Donna

 

[LuvCardio]

Thanks for the pointers. I took a rest day yesterday and I feel a bit better. I think I might actually be overtraining a bit on the cardio/step too.

I am going to try stretching more like you said

I might also pick up a pair of aerobic shoes for my higher lateral movement days? I don't even know if I could return my running shoes I bought???

-Pammer

 

[Connie1]

A "stretch" suggestion:
If this area does need stretching, the shin area probably needs corresponding strengthening.

Raising your toes, like toe-tapping to the music, is good because it does both. When you're in bed or any time you can also just really, really flex your feet- the opposite of pointing your toes- to work those shin muscles. They often respond readily, especially when their antagonists are strong (the calf area). If you do these they (both shin and achilles) should feel really good.

I don't know too much about shoes. I do know I need the best lateral suuport I can find. Someone posted the Ryka Stylus to be good in this area. I expect to have to get a half to whole size bigger in that shoe because they run small.

 

[clareMc]

Pammer:

I'm not sure I'd be happy with a running shoe for step at all. Sounds like the sales guy threw his pitch at you aggresively. What qualifications does he have to make such claims? How long since you bought them? Do they look worn? If you bought them within the last month, polish them up, back in the tissue paper in the box and take them for refund. Go into the shop, very assertively, request the refund, defer any attempts to quibble with this. If they have aerobic trainers you like the look of, then you could suggest a trade in if they are giving you a hard time.

Any good store will let you try on as many pairs as you want, and will not bat an eye while you leap about practicing some Cathe moves in them to see how they will handle it: arch support, snug fit, great cushioning is what you are looking for. Resist salesman patter to get you to buy a particular shoe. When I bought my Rykas the man wanted me to try and buy the Reeboks, just because, he said, all aerobic instructors love them. Well, so what? The Rykas fit better, cushioned me jut superbly and were a more stylish shoe!

I had trouble with my achilles and plantar fascitis last March I only did step cardio. After this, I rested it for two weeks straight, spending my time on power walking only for cardio and still weight training. After that, I varied the cardio with hi/lo and cardio kicks and within one month it was cured. In the meanwhile I replaced my worn out Nikes with Ryka Cirrus studio aerobic shoe and I wear a sorbothane inner inside for extra support and, touch wood, I have had no trouble since.

So, try not to do step more than once per week for a month or two. Vary your cardio types to avoid overuse injuries and also, it's good for the mucles anyway!

Hope this helps and wish you the best with this

Clare