Shoes for Frayed Achilles: Stack Height or Heel-Toe Differential?

Running Shoes/Running Gear Shoes

9 years ago 11/28/2014 2:24pm EST

A doctor told me to get new shoes to fix a long-standing (2 years +) Achilles injury ("frayed" tendon). In looking over some of the different options I note that a number of shoes have a pretty big stack height (like the Hokas; the forefoot is 21 mm off the ground, and the heel is 25 mm off) but a small differential between heel and toe (only 4 mm drop in the latter case) while other shoes have a lesser stack height but larger heel-toe differential (e.g., the New Balance 870 has a 16mm (forefoot) and 24mm (heel) measurement).

I think I was told that I would need some good cushioning to help this tendon heal, but also a large enough heel-toe differential so that the Achilles won't be stretched quite as much.

Since it's not always easy to find both a big stack height and a substantial heel-toe differential in one shoe (or, if it is easy, I haven't found one yet), which factor would be more important for helping a frayed Achilles heal up/scar over? Is it more important to have a large heel-toe differential, or more important to have a large stack height (extra cushioning)? I'm coming from a minimalist background, so I assume that will make some difference in terms of ease of adjusting to more "maximal" shoes.

Thanks for the help, and also for any specific shoe recommendations anyone might have.

9 years ago 11/28/2014 3:38pm EST

re: VincentJ

Nike Vomero

Asics Nimbus

Brooks Glycerin

Saucony Triumph

Those are the four "high end" neutral cushion shoes that I sold the most of when I was in Running Specialty. If your doctor said run with more cushion and more heel-toe differential, any of these is fine. Overall stack height is not always the best indicator of total cushioning, as some materials absorb shock better than others.

Coming from a minimalist background, I'd probably try Saucony first because their profiles and differentials are a little more "minimal" and you can find 0mm 4mm and 8mm differentials in their various shoes, as opposed to mostly 10mm with some random outliers in the other brands.

Best advice? Don't over think it. Buy a shoe that feels comfortable ("Like a slipper") and try it out. If it doesn't work, try a different one. Running surface, training volume, and rest/recovery/prevention are all arguably (by me, anyway) more important that footwear.

9 years ago 11/28/2014 10:32pm EST

re: SCIENCE!

Thanks for this. I'll give those shoes a look.

9 years ago 11/29/2014 7:55pm EST

re: VincentJ

I have been dealing with Achilles tendonitis for the better part of 3 years now, and I have found the Nike Pegasus 31's to help out quite nicely. Just enough cushion that the responsiveness isn't lost, and the drop is on that threshold of too much and too little for my achilles. I would say look for 8-10mm drop with whatever stack height you prefer. I would also suggest looking for a shoe that has some give to it, and not inflexible, as I have found those shoes to put more strain on my achilles. Here are some to look at: Nike Pegasus 31, New Balance MR1400v1 or v2, Mizuno Wave Rider

9 years ago 11/29/2014 11:11pm EST

re: SonOfRitz

I second the Pegasus. Although maybe the 30 more than the 31 for an achilles. Both good though.

9 years ago 11/30/2014 9:17am EST

re: VincentJ

I faced this years ago. I stacked the heel of both shoes with heel insets. I also taped the mud foot of my injured foot. Over the instep send under the mid sole. That helped to take pressure off the achilles.

Over time I removed the inserts one insert at a time. I had three in each shoe. Eventually got down to one. That's where I am now. Been there for several decades.

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Shoes for Frayed Achilles: Stack Height or Heel-Toe Differential?

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