Achilles pain alleviated by shoe change

[Court Karma]

For nearly two years I've been dealing with calf and Achilles tendon issues. My Achilles issues especially have been worsening over the last several months, with swelling, "knobs" on my Achilles, morning stiffness, and general hobbling around for days after playing tennis. I've been limited to playing one day per week and have been unable to take brisk walks much less run or cycle.

While cleaning a closet I came upon a brand new pair of Adidas Barricade V Classics. I believe this was the reincarnation of the Barricade II's that I wore for years. It occurred to me that I started having issues when I changed from the Barricades to the Asics Resolution line. So I decided to give the Barricades another go.

Over the last week, I've played three times with the Barricades and each time my Achilles pain has significantly lessened. Swelling is way down and I'm walking normally.

The Barricades have a much more built up heel and I assume it's this change in heel to toe slope that is helping so much. I don't have the specs for the Resolution, but the shoes feels much closer to the ground (which was what I was looking for when I made the change).

 

[scotus]

I believe your pain relief came simply from changing shoes. The new shoes are placing stress at a slightly different location than your old shoes.

It is really not because Barricade V is better for your Achilles. The raised heel is supposed to put more strain on your Achilles, but at the moment you are getting relief because your are no longer getting stress on the same point in your tendon.

I recommend that you start icing regiment and get cranking on your heel drop exercises.

 

[Court Karma]

Scotus are you suggesting Achilles issues will follow but at a different area of the tendon?

I've never heard of the raised heel putting MORE strain on the Achilles. Certainly flat shoes stretch the Achilles more, and in my case perhaps overly much.

Thrilled at the prospect of strengthening this area. Band work progressing to heel drop exercises.

 

[mikeler]

I've had the same problem in the past. My shoe will get discontinued and then I plop down money for the next model and my Achilles aches. So those become walking shoes and I have to try another model.

 

[Mr.Lob]

"Knobs" on your Achilles sounds like bone spurs. Take some time off, then start stretching and strengthening your calves and foot muscles... stretching EVERY day. That will be $200. Who is your insurance carrier?

 

[FluidTennis]

Changing shoes does help. I've have insertional Achilles issues plus a recent calf pull. I moved from old gel solution 2's (I think I was losing cushioning on the back of them) to get resolution 6s (with green superfeet plus 2 pairs of socks) and all much better. (For the calves I'm doing dynamic stretching rather than static stretching before I play and so far so good.)

 

[scotus]

Scotus are you suggesting Achilles issues will follow but at a different area of the tendon?

I've never heard of the raised heel putting MORE strain on the Achilles. Certainly flat shoes stretch the Achilles more, and in my case perhaps overly much.

Thrilled at the prospect of strengthening this area. Band work progressing to heel drop exercises.

Yes, unless you work on it (icing, stretching, strengthening the tendon), the pain will come back.

The more raised heel is supposed to crunch the Achilles tendon and keep the calf in shortened state, and this is supposed to be worse for the Achilles than the lower heel.

I wish you a full recovery. Godspeed!

 

[FluidTennis]

I find a raised heel can relieve achilles pain / tendinopathy when it's bad. For example I avoid barefoot and a heel raise helps me stop aggravating the issue. But once I'm over the worst and can walk properly I slowly try to get back to normal shoes so that my Achilles adjusts back. I am not a foot doctor but I would assume that a standard Barricade or Asic would be fine long term from a heel lift perspective.