DOPE - Did my form change or am I aging? I didn't have many injuries in college, but I am getting older (28) and have been dealing with more injuries recently, specifically in the heel. My podiatrist said I need neutral running shoes instead of stability. I've been wearing ASICS Gel Nimbus for a long time and just switched to Brooks Glycerine tonight.
Excited for a run tomorrow. Has anyone seen improvement with injuries after switching shoes?
Those are both neutral shoes and both pretty maximal. Shouldn't be much different really.
you should try running in a racing flat...i feel x10 better
I assume your heel injury is plantar fasciitis, right? About 5 years ago, I had a severe case so bad I had to use crutches when I first got up until it loosened up a bit.
I saw a PT who used dry needling to promote healing. I realized that shoes were probably a factor so I decided to try a radically different shoe. I went with the Hoka Huaka (now discontinued) and the pain went away.
The Glycerin and the Nimbus are both cushioned, neutral, 10mm drop shoes. I'd suggest you try something different.
I'm currently running in the Hoka Napali, which is similar to the discontinued Huaka. They're on sale right now at running warehouse. The Hoka's beveled outsole slightly moves forward the impact point on landing, in my experience, and results in a more rocking motion from heel impact to forefoot impact, whereas 10mm drop shoes result in a double impact as the heel and then the forefoot touches down.
Oh, and it's not that you have been running in the wrong trainers. You foot changes as you age and accumulate hundreds of hours of running. You are probably landing too hard on your heel. The solution is counterintuitive. A more cushioned heel allows runners to land harder on the heel, which in turn promotes a running form that heel strikes hard. The Hoka is a good compromise as you heal your heel. That said, I've worn Hokas for five years now with no recurrence of the heel problem.
Very insightful. Good to hear I haven't been wearing the wrong trainers all this time. It's funny, my podiatrist is the one who said my ASICS Gel Nimbus are stability shoes then the running stores told me they are neutral. I've been wearing the Nimbus 19 which have a high arch design. ASICS actually changed the arch in the Nimbus 21 so maybe they adjusted to other neutral shoe brands.
I still plan to give the Brooks a try since I felt less of a heel strike when I did a test run before I purchased them. I also tried the HOKA Clifton and I could definitely feel the rocking motion. I plan to try those out if I have no luck with Brooks. Either way, my feet needed a new feel anyway after 10 years.
Mmmh, the only reason that your podiatrist is recommending the Brooks Glycerine might be because the shoe is way more expensive.
$150 to $100 compared to the Asics Nimbus. Both look exactly as neutral on the chart at runningwarehouse.com.
But maybe I am missing something.
Brooks Glycerine
https://www.runningwarehouse.com/Brooks_Glycerin_16/descpage-BRG16M2.html
Asics Nimbus
https://www.runningwarehouse.com/ASICS_Gel_Nimbus_20/descpage-AN20M2.html
I always recommend to mix up shoe brands, models and age of the shoe a little bit. I rotate with 2-4 pairs of shoes at the same time. Newer ones I use for longer runs, older for shorter runs.
My podiatrist only recommended that I go to the local running store and ask for a neutral shoe; he didn't give any specific brand. My heel definitely feels better with the Glycerines but the sample size is only a few days. The Nimbus definitely feels like less cushion when I run so I'm gonna let it ride with the Brooks.
Happy and healthy running everyone.
Who can I trust for heel/foot pain then? Why would a podiatrist lie?
If he wasn't fixing people's problems, how would he still have a practice? HELP!
It's my impression that there is no way to predict which shoes will be good for people. Stability, motion control etc...just marketing.
I'd guess that fit is the most important thing, and then just somehow when the shoe matches your stride. Hard to get that right.
Heal me wrote:
Who can I trust for heel/foot pain then? Why would a podiatrist lie?
If he wasn't fixing people's problems, how would he still have a practice? HELP!
Pretty simple why they lie? Well, that is how they pay the bills. Other than surgeons who fix major problems that need surgery ASAP. The medical system is not design to heal people(one good example are statins, given to people who have CVD. But all they do, is harm the people who take them). This is how the medical system works. They create customers and they hope to never loose those customers. I'd recommend you start training in racing flats or light weight trainers w/ very little to no drop.
nimbus is legit the basic equivalent of a glycerin moran
Moran? Come on now...
I'm tired of the Nimbus anyway, they made the toe box too narrow. My trainers clearly show a lot of wear and tear on the left front near my big toe. If the change to Glycerine works, and the doctor was in fact lying, then I guess it still works out in the end, right? Not every neutral shoe is the same. My insurance should pay for the whole visit anyway which also ruled out any fractures.
Some doctors may be shady, but nothing compares to mechanics... SAY NO!