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!
Written by
UpTheStanley
Graduate10
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
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.
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!
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.
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!😶
Content on HealthUnlocked does not replace the relationship between you and doctors or other healthcare professionals nor the advice you receive from them.
Never delay seeking advice or dialling emergency services because of something that you have read on HealthUnlocked.
….. (or was that nigging about naggles?)
) 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.
Testing, testing...tentatively steps away from the injury couch😮🙂
From one run to the next...
Running in the new engine: C25K W1R1 revisited
And one step back...
