achilles tendonitis/shoes+

[randbrod14]

I have been suffering with Achilles tendonitis off and on for the past year and a half. I am a4.0 player, 50+ and play doubles once a week on concrete.

I have been wearing K Swiss Defier for a few years. They must have changed things since I have not been happy with the past pair I have gotten.

With my achilles issues, I am looking at getting a new pair of sneakers. It there anyone who has had achilles issues and would recommend tennis sneakers for me to wear?

I have read other posts regarding exercises. Any other specific things to do would be appreciated.

Thanks!

 

[charliefedererer]

Do you have flat feet?

Do you overpronate?

The reason I ask is that Achilles tendonitis occurs much more frequently in those with flat feet who overpronate. The Achilles get stressed by the abnormal inversion of the foot when walking/running/standing.

The good news is that flat feet/overpronation can largely be remedied with good arch support from either a good over-the-counter supportive insole like those from Superfeet, or if necessary, from a custom orthotic.

(Corrected foot with orthotic on left, flat foot overpronating without correction on right.)



Even if you don't have flat feet/overpronation, you may be helped with an insole/orthotic that has a heel cup that in raising the heel, takes the stress off of the achilles tendon:

Superfeet Orange

 

[fuzz nation]

Completely agree - I've solved tendonitis issues in the past with either appropriate insoles or with shoes that have given me a good neutral ankle alignment. My feet are narrow and rather flat, but with the right shoes, I've had great success.

For the record, I use Asics Gel Game 2's. I'm alternating my 3rd and 4th pair now and I'm hoping that the Gel Game 3's are made to accommodate the same foot type.

 

[randbrod14]

Actually, I have a rather high arch. I probably mildly pronate. I have been using the green superfeet insoles for 2 years since I first developed plantar fasciitis - which resolved in 4 months and has not recurred.
So, I do try. I realize that this is a chronic problem. I have been stretching religiously, which does help. But am looking for any additional advice I can get.

 

[mikeler]

Ultrasound followed by electrostimulation and a heating pad has always helped me with tendon issues.

 

[heninfan99]

Completely agree - I've solved tendonitis issues in the past with either appropriate insoles or with shoes that have given me a good neutral ankle alignment. My feet are narrow and rather flat, but with the right shoes, I've had great success.

For the record, I use Asics Gel Game 2's. I'm alternating my 3rd and 4th pair now and I'm hoping that the Gel Game 3's are made to accommodate the same foot type.

What shoes are you using these days???

 

[fuzz nation]

What shoes are you using these days???

The next generation of those Gel Games were awful for me - significantly more narrow.

I work at a club in the summer and my boss has been a big-time Wilson guy for several years, so when my old Lotto Raptor's finally quit, I shopped the "home team's" label. My first try was a pair of Wilson's Kaos Comps - bad for my feet. Too flat and too much room in the toe box, so I blistered a bit with those.

Then I tried a set of Rush Pro 2.5's. In terms of how these matched up with my feet, they started out good and only got better. I picked up two more pairs last year and I'm probably going to get one more pair from TW soon when I get more string. They're all different colors... so that's fun.

 

[mikeler]

I keep a rotation of shoes going at the same time. The achilles tendon started to let me know it was time to throw those shoes out. Within a few matches of using the new shoes (same exact model), the pain went away.

I have a rule that if I buy a new pair of shoes and it causes any pain from tennis, they become walking shoes after that.