Your chronic Achilles/haglunds shoe strategy that works

Basically more drop the better so a 12mm drop like the Brooks Ghost. Or add lifts to lower drop shoes. Eventually you’ll have to give up running or get surgery but that’s not your question.

8 years and you never thought to search the forums here? Compare. Contrast. Tell us what worked. C’mon bro. Help me help you.

I agree with this. I tried many different shoes over a 3-4 year span, but surgery was the only option that actually could solve my issue. Looking back, I wish I hadn't spent so long (and so much money) trying different shoes and other treatment methods. My recommendation is to schedule an appointment with a good orthopedic surgeon and get it taken care of as soon as you can so you don't waste many years like me trying to avoid surgery. If you've had it for 8 years, I really don't think shoes are going to be the solution. It's tendinosis at this point. And the surgery does usually suck, but it's 100% worth it.

I've had a decent amount of injuries since I started running, but achilles injuries are by far the worst in my opinion. Good luck to you.

New Balance 880 v12

Mostly because the heel collar is flexible and doesn't stab into my Achilles. I'm sure there are other shoes that do this too

have had chronic achilles issues in the past and this is the right line of thinking based off my experience.

an alternative, which i very highly recommend: cut an approximate 1" slit in the heel collar of your shoes.

doesn't take a rocket surgeon to see how bad a design those heel collars are in 99% of shoes: simply put your shoe on, plantar flex and then notice how much pressure that heel collar places on the tendon.

i raced bikes professionally and literally had to cut a slit in the heel section of my $400 shoes too.

works wonders.

Can you further describe this slit? Is it vertical or horizontal? Do you remove any material? Do you use a utility knife or something with a serrated edge or a dremel tool or Sawzall?

Thx

I have a problem with the back tabs on some shoes. I don't know why they make them so ridiculously over-sized. On some shoes it's fine but on one pair it is so aggravating to my achilles tendon. My achilles tendon was injured quite badly in the past (many years back) and it never really went 100% back to normal, although I'd say at some points it was very close.

It does this thing that I call "springing" (I don't know if that makes sense). It just feels very odd, like a sensation inside it. Anyway, I have some shoes I would love to wear and I can't get a refund on them. The tab at the back is massive and it is inflexible.

In the past I tried chopping the tab horizontally which was awful. Someone said to put a cut down vertically with scissors. I tried that years ago and it was deeply uncomfortable. Does anyone have any suggestions as I've never really found anything that would work!

I know this probably sounds a bit out there but I think I'm going to try hitting it with a hammer(!). I wonder if it will tenderise the tab, lol. Any opinions on this?

this... plus shoe stretcher and a heat gun. I use 2 vertical slits, one on each side of heel cup, then stretch it. Used this approach for at least 30 years

That's helpful hankisslow, thank you. Because when I cut a vertical slit into the heel tab before it rubbed the back of my foot severely. Hadn't thought of applying heat. And re what I said about the hammer, they tell you to hit Doc Marten boots like this before wearing them, it wasn't a joke... I am actually thinking of doing this because I can't wear the shoe at all at this point I may as well.

I nearly sprained my ankle 10 minutes into my run today. I was running down a steep hill and rolled my left ankle pretty bad. It stopped my left achilles from nagging me for the rest of the run, but then my right achilles which I've had no problems with starting nagging me a little bit.

I either warmed up or was favoring my right after rolling the left, or both. Or maybe rolling your ankle to the point of sprain has some weird benefits.

I don't think surgery is the only option.

Not very well educated about not being injured apparently.

Tell that to all the pro's who are injured.

Marita Koch suffered with chronic achilles issues. Her answer was to cut a small v in the heel collar of her spikes too. If it worked for her...

I have retrieved the hammer from outside and am about to try.

I don't want to waste a good pair of trainers (and I also want to see what happens!). I have never managed to modify a pair successfully - they always still rub to some degree.

Wish me luck. And the shoes for that matter :).

Without getting into the merits of surgery, I'll also say that the Puma Liberate has been working for me. It's low stack by today's standards, but plenty cushioned IMO.

I've had great luck with Nike Zoom Flys in the past, but the recent ones didn't feel as good. The Tempo Next% feels like a more suitable replacement, will probably be my next shoe purchase (if I can still find them).

Adidas Takumi Sen gives me no problems at all. It feels a little awkward at easy/warmup paces though, otherwise I'd actually consider it as a daily shoe since it goes on sale often.

Nike Dragonfly is the first spike I've worn in ages that doesn't completely destroy my calves.

A lot of the shoes have changed over time and some of the changes - at least in terms of achilles - are not very positive.

I measured the back of my shoe from where my heel hits the insole to the top of the tab and it is between three and three and a half inches and the tab has no indent. They were a gift but I just don't think I can risk it.

I've had issues for years as well. The Atreyu Base Model and Daily Trainer have been working really well for me lately. I'm 6'1" 170 lbs FWIW.