Superfeet in minimalist shoes

I have been training in flats with custom soft orthotics for years. Before the switch to flats I had seasonal struggles with PF and they have not recurred. Some flats are better than others -- because they are flatter. I used the T4 for a while but figured out that its heel is pretty high and can cause problems. My current and all time favorite shoe is the Asics Hyperspeed 2. It has a thick sole but a flat one and is good for marathoning as well as general training; plenty of cushioning.

I've had plantar fascia problems over the past year and have worn the Superfeet in my orange brooks racers for weekly track workouts with some success. I say "some" because doing stuff on the track obviously didn't eliminate the plantar pain, but my feet always felt relatively better when I wore the Superfeet than when I went without them. I also wore them in my trainers.good luck

rankler wrote:

My story:

From 2004-present I've been training in flats (Onitsuka Ultimate 81, Asics Tiger Paw, Brooks T4, Adidas Adizero RC, New Balance 790). For the past few months I've had plantar fascia pain, and I've just started experimenting with blue Superfeet in my shoes. Before I get too far in and become reliant on them, I wanted to see if anyone else had experience with a similar combination. It seems to me that the main benefit of training in flats has been the low heel height, and that an arch support is not exactly parallel to medial posting (which I've always thought to be a highly suspect concept).

Thanks.

rankler wrote:

My story:

From 2004-present I've been training in flats (Onitsuka Ultimate 81, Asics Tiger Paw, Brooks T4, Adidas Adizero RC, New Balance 790).

New Balance 790's are not flats at all - they are lightweight trail running shoes with a moderate heel. Compare them to your Adizero RC's.... they are clunkers in comparision.

I had problems with PF until I traded my vagina in for a dong.

Well the guy who wrote about the 790's does not know what he is talking about. They are built on a racing comp last and have 8mm of heel to toe adn are 8.5 oz for a mens 9.5

I have used superfeet with comps for all runs for the past 5 years... Works great with no problems...

Thanks for the good comments. Yeah, the 790s are a little beefier than the Adizero RC, but still a very low profile shoe. You can't get much lower profile and lighter without sacrificing traction and rock protection.

I guess this should bring up a larger debate: arch support vs. medial posting. I think that medial posting is kind of a bogus concept for controlling pronation, as it is part of the platform the foot is above, while an arch support can interact with the foot in three dimensions.

all you guys are talking about PF, but has anyone had any trouble with shin splints and the superfeet and minimalist combo?

Try the powerstep insole as well. This has a more pronounced arch and I have gotten many people with PF in them. It alleviated their pain.

powerstep wrote:

Try the powerstep insole as well. This has a more pronounced arch and I have gotten many people with PF in them. It alleviated their pain.

Am I thinking of something else, or are the Powerstep insoles very beefy? I would think that most minimalist shoes would not have room to accommodate them and a foot without going to a much larger size. The nice thing about the blue Superfeet is that they are very low profile. I don't really want an insole with much cushion.

be very careful of the superfeet, they are very stiff and rigid which could cause problems like shin splints

I have used SUperfeet in all my shoes the past 6 years or so and have had good success with them. Dealt with the PF for about 1.5 years till that subsided and haven't had issues since the last 5 years.

For trail running I use the 790's with superfeet. On the roads, I typically wear the Mizuno Precision but right now am in the Zoom Haywards 3 from Nike, with the superfeet. Never have problems with shin pain - if you have shin pain you might want to do some simple strengthening to help those muscles...I have found that to be my biggest savior in dealing with any kind of shin pain in the past...don't have issues anymore with that.

I also have worn the superfeet in the mizuno universe shoe for work, or just casual wear - I have yet to run in them yet. I prefer the feel of that shoe with the superfeet though than without.

Two Things:

1. Superfeet or any over the counter orthotic is going to keep your "flats" from being flats.

2. I would caution against using them in a pair of shoes that is fairly low volume as this will put you higher in your shoes and might affect the fit. Blisters, etc.

Orthotics are intended to be temporary fixes to problems while you address the issue related to your injury. Strengthen and rehab the issue that is causing your feet to react in the form of plantar and you can go back to running without them...as it was intended.

Orthotics are an American thing.

Good Luck

With all due respect to those minimalist but doesnt putting insoles in your minimal shoe defeating the purpose. If you are wearing a racing flat to train in everyday then arent you suppose to be allowing yourself to overpornate as naturally as possible. If you put something like a superfeet or powerstep insole in then you are just adding stability to your shoe in the way of an orthotics. So why not just buy a shoe with a bit more stability in it? Something like a lightweight trainer possibly?

I've personally found that the lightweight trainer or flat with orthotics to be a great set up. Before I was running in neutral trainers w/ orthotics and had issues with ITBS and MTSS. I would take the orthotics out and the MTSS would get better (the orthorics created a steeper heel->toe), but the ITBS would flare up really bad. With flats I'm able to keep the heel->toe pretty flat and keep my ITBS happy.

Currently I'm running in the NB 827 for road, and on the trails I'm in the Inov8 305 or lighter.

This is interesting. I always thought of orthotics as THE fix. I have been wearing them since 1984- custom made by a podiatrist.

Pre-orthotics- constant: Shin splints, sciatic nerve pain, PF, "runers knee", back pain, the gamut.

With orthotics- virtually NO overuse injuries since 1984- EXCEPT for the last 11 months.

Since getting my last pair I have had nagging injury after injury. I woke up sore, I got new shoes and even got a new matress!

Then, on a whim, I put my old orthotics in- the NEXT DAY- soreness is gone and has stayed away.

If I walk around barefoot for too long, my legs feel it.

I may have become dependent on my orthotics over the years, but I would love to know what strengthening excercises I could do to help myself.

I overpronate, slightly, but enough to cause problems when I run 50+ MPW.

I have been thinking about trying over the counter orthotics (like superfeet).

I wear ASICS GT-2120/2130. Have been for a long time, it is only since getting these new orthotics that I've had the problems. The worst problem is a tightening of my soleus (at least in that area) to the point where I can't run. Again, these injuries are new and very frustrating.

I'm going to my podiatrist today.

HELP!!!

mcordi

Don't go see your podiatrist, seek out a Physical Therapist with a Biomechanical background.

Podiatrist have one option while PT's have many.

mcordi

Don't go see your podiatrist, seek out a Physical Therapist with a Biomechanical background.

Podiatrist have one option while PT's have many.

mcordi

Don't go see your podiatrist, seek out a Physical Therapist with a Biomechanical background.

Podiatrist have one option while PT's have many.

black rainbow wrote:

mcordi

Don't go see your podiatrist, seek out a Physical Therapist with a Biomechanical background.

Podiatrist have one option while PT's have many.

That's a rather uninformed statement to make, especially when the podiatrist has helped to keep him healthy and running for 20+ straight years. The truth is, when it comes to knowledge about runners, there are great podiatrists and lousy ones. The same goes for PT's.

If mcordi can find a good PT who can help him with strength issues, that's great. However, to totally turn his back on methods that have been successful in the past may not be the best idea.