Well, who knew? From another physio's couch …..

[UpTheStanley]

I too am just back from a visit to a physio, having succumbed to Dexy5 's nagging about getting my niggles sorted out ….. (or was that nigging about naggles?)

After a quick canter through my last 12 months' running history, some laying on of hands and some exercises up against the wall, the verdict is that I am suffering from Achilles tendinopathy brought on by (shock, horror ) converting to midfoot striking after 67 happy years on my heels! Apparently my lower leg muscles, especially the right soleus, are struggling to adapt to the change, and my right Achilles is having to take up the slack.

Remedy - strengthening exercises 3 days a week but run at my discretion on the other days . My man didn't suggest I should revert to heel striking, but did hint that changing away from it, if it came naturally, was maybe more last year's fashion choice than a scientifically supported decision - hopefully reporting that won't get me drummed out of the Brownies!

[cheekychipmunks Graduate10]

Oh no UTS, but at least you have a diagnosis. 👍

Interestingly, I asked about the optimum area of the foot to land whilst running at my gait analysis yesterday, and was told wryly that it’s mighty difficult to train someone to alter their natural step - doing so results in an unnatural movement which will more than likely lead to injury down the line. Go figure! So his recommendation was to work with what nature intended us to have.

I hope you get sorted soon. 👍🏃

[roseabi]

Sorry to hear about your woes - hope you're feeling better asap! But I am glad you posted about this, I would like to see less of the notion of midfoot strike as a panacea!

[Dexy5 Graduate10]

mmm

Delete: nagging

Insert: a brilliant suggestion to enable speedier recovery

wink emoji

[Razouski in reply to Dexy5]

😂😂😂

[Razouski]

Oh dear Upthestanley. I’m sure Dexy only had your best interest at heart.

It’s called Assertive Encouragement not Nagging- well that’s what I always tell Mr Razouski. 😀

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate10 in reply to Razouski]

I love that expression..may I use it please... ?

[Razouski in reply to Oldfloss]

Help yourself, Oldfloss .x

[JonathanP Graduate10]

Glad you know what the problem is UTS. Nice to have a partner with your best interests at heart! 😉

[Coddfish Graduate10]

2 years ago, when looking for something to help improve our running, Mr Coddfish and I signed up for an afternoon “Natural Running Workshop” offered through Alexandra Sports. We went off to the big gym / swimming pool complex in Winchester, where the trainer had us doing various things to distract the brain whilst running. It was based around Alexander technique. We ran whilst having the central part of our vision covered, we played counting games to increase cadence, learnt about both staying tall but also relaxing. Net effect, whilst the trainer never said it as such, was to get us forefoot running. It had a transformative effect on Mr Coddfish, as if he had found his inner child and could go back to how he used to run. For me, it confused me and slowed me down! I think you are right that most of us can’t readily change how we run. But I have never yet seen a good runner who isn’t a forefoot runner, I have never yet seen a child who doesn’t forefoot strike. Hope you can sort your niggles out.

[UpTheStanley Graduate10 in reply to Coddfish]

Umm ... there’s no doubt my running feels more fluid when I’m off my heels, but it would seem my legs need to be convinced 🤔

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate10]

Run whichever way works for you and your Achilles... at least now you know! x

[UpTheStanley Graduate10 in reply to Oldfloss]

As above .....

[BaddieThePirate Graduate10]

Interesting...

[Deals1 Graduate10]

Yeah I second that.... Interesting. Thanks

[Jell6 Graduate10]

Thanks UTS, I found this helpful. Maybe because I am still trying to go slower I started to wonder what my feet were doing, and should I consciously try to alter the way I land.

Having read this I have scratched that thought, and will let them land where they land. Apart from puddles, potholes and other unmentionables!😶

I hope your exercises sort out your "naggles"