All carbon plated shoes are created for racing NOT TRAINING

why would you get achilles problems out of interest? because the achilles is not working very hard in those high drop shoes.

is the problem that the shoes keep the muscles surrounding the tendons from working, thus weakening them, and exposing to injury?

Are nylon plated shoes better from an injury perspective? What about half length plates?

I have always assumed training in high stack shoes would lead to ankle issues, so its nice, if sad, to get some confirmation of this. I've been running in the streak lt (22 mm) stack for years now. No ankle or lower leg issues in years. I buy them off ebay as they're discontinued.

What do you suggest Podiatrist, as the lowest stack shoes on the market (other than the couple specially designed track racers and the streakfly 2) are high 20s stack height and most people walking into a running store won't find a trainer or even a racer with lowwer than 30mm stack height?

Is it fine for the masses to train in a shoe like this, so long as its unplated?

it's the new mindset. "Easier is better. "

Electric bikes, velcro strap shoes, AI, electronics to answer any question. No knowledge needed. Very little cardio needed.

Bump

What about walking?

There are lots of factors to consider before you can make a generalization about plated shoes causing injuries. What do you mean by a "majority" of their training? How many miles per week and at what paces? Are these experienced runners, high schoolers, or what? Do any of them have a background of injuries prior to using carbon plated shoes for training? How do they strike the ground (heel, mid, forefoot)? What other shoes do they run in?

These are just some of the factors that need to be taken into consideration before you can determine whether shoes are causing these injuries...

Podiatry is one of those fields close to chiropractic, making tons of money on unprovable mumbo jumbo theories.

I've had two try to rip me off, one with pointless diagnostic procedures, the other with surgery. Both were well respected in their profession, and I know for sure both were lying to me.

Footwear can have only a limited effect on the function of a running foot. Nearly every effect it can have is bad.

You have it completely backwards. With carbon fiber the Achilles is subjected to much greater force. The Achilles tendon doesn't "work", it stretches then gives back elastic energy.

Interesting. When I run in plated shoes, it feels like my lower legs barely take any abuse compared to non-plated.

All the hallux limitus/rigidus sufferers who can now train properly for the first time since onset probably disagree.

I like how the OP presents themselves as an expert, but then proceeds to make zero explanation for their position. I don't necessarily agree or disagree with their position, but at least give some evidence to how they came their analysis.

That's the physics I'm on about here. How does a false external brace (restricts the movements of no joints) increase the force on a tendon?

Maybe people decide carbon feels harder than their soft cushy trainers.

Spikes restrict movement in one way, by fitting tightly. That interferes with pronation, which would be shifted up to the Achilles. The plate is there to hold the spikes, mainly. Minor effect is to limit the ground contact area. And countless other imaginary benefits showcased by elite sprinters.

Obviously if you pay an elite athlete to wear your magic spikes, your magic spikes are what made them elite.

Spikes do not restrict pronation.

What you think are "imaginary benefits", are in fact real benefits.

Both yourself and the OP are certainly too weak to use spikes properly and too weak to benefit from them. Hobby joggers won't notice much of a difference.

Barefoot is back, btchezzzz!

Interesting. So to protect an achilles ideally you'd want to be running in firm shoes that retain a highish drop and on a firm surface e.g. not grass or sand

Maybe that's part of the problem - a reduced awareness/feeling. Whereas in more basic shoes you can feel the ground more and feel what's going on.

I’ve run thousands of miles for years exclusively in nylon plated shoes (Saucony Endorphin Speed) and not only have never had an injury but they cured the nagging injuries I had been dealing with (knees/achilles/shins/hip).