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Jeff
Jeff Sendmail

Switching shoes

posted almost 2 years ago | Report

On the advice of a running specialist, I switched from a neutral shoe to a stability shoe (Asics GT 2150). During my 2d run in the new shoes, the muscles along the sides of my shin bone cramped up so bad that I could barely walk. This has never happened to me before. Q: Is this "normal " after switching to a different type of shoe? I.e., Do stability shoes employ or stress different muscles in the leg than neutral shoes? Is there a period that my legs must "adjust" to the new shoes? TIA

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  • Jason C.
    Jason C. Sendmail

    Jeff, I'm certainly no expert. I can tell you I run in the Asics GT 2140 (previous year model) and they have worked out really well for me. Maybe your muscles are adjusting to a different way of stabilizing. I would back of the miles while you are getting used to them. If it doesn't resolve quickly I would stop running in them.

    posted almost 2 years ago

  • Jason N.
    Jason N. Sendmail

    I am seeing the exact same thing right now, and it happend to me with my last new pair as well. Last time it took me about two weeks to "break in" the new shoes, and after that I put in 450+ miles pain free. I got new ones this past Sunday- Monday's run was great, and then I had shin and foot issues both Tuesday and Wednesday(left leg only??). I am hoping it is just a short adjustment peroid...

    posted almost 2 years ago

  • Bo A.PRO
    Bo A. Sendmail

    There's a noticeable difference between the difference types of running shoes for me. I have a pair that are a stability/control shoe, they feel different and work my muscles differently. I also have a pair of stability/neutral and another pair that are much more cushioning/neutral focused shoe. Each one is a little different in how it works my foot and leg muscles.

    The cushioning pair (and most neutral) is really only good for 5K runs or less as it causes me some foot problems on longer runs ( 10K + ). The other two pairs are better on longer runs with the stability/control shoe being best for distances over 10K.

    Each shoe has its role, the cushioning shoe is for running on the street in the evenings and hence its 5K limit is fine. The other two get used on weekends mostly when I'm pushing out my distance.

    If I spend too much time in one shoe I definitely feel it when I switch over to the others, especially the transition from the stability/control shoe to the cushioning shoe... way more foot flex and muscle use in the cushioning shoe.

    I've also noticed a difference in brands... Nikes seem softer and more flexible whereas New Balance seems a bit firmer and stiff to me. The New balance shoes seem to be best for my longer running and the Nikes work better on my short hard surface runs. (My Nikes and New Balance shoes are all street running shoes so they are all intended for the same kinds of running.)

    posted almost 2 years ago

  • Jane D.
    Jane D. Sendmail

    Jeff, I am an expert on running shoes. Couple of questions: which muscles along the shin bone? Along the outside, inside or both? Also, how many miles did you run in the new shoes, and what kind of mileage were you running in the old ones? And last, who was the running specialist? Did they watch you run on the ground (that is, not a treadmill), did they examine your old shoes and were you having any problems in your running that would indicate a need to change stability levels?

    posted almost 2 years ago

  • Jeff
    Jeff Sendmail

    @ Jane D. - my normal run is 4-5 miles. old shoes are New Balance 1063. B4 the new shoes, I developed leg pain in the right rear calf muscle area over the past 6-8 months, causing a noticeable limp. This pain originated in the calf muscle, and ran to the front of my shin, down to my foot. Very painful. To overcome or fix this, I have "tried everything" and then went to the specialist referred to above to get an opinion on whether I am in the right shoe. She saw a neutral gait, except for the right foot "overcompensating," (i.e., pronating) for what may be a previous injury.

    The specialist seemed to make a comprehensive exam , She physically examined my foot, watched me run outside and then inside and then again outside, videotaped me on a treadmill front to back and then back to front, made funny markings on my foot (tickled), made me stand on one foot and then the other, touch one ear, hop, say boogie-boogie, hop again, do the loop-d-loop, etc...

    In the new shoes, I stopped after approx 2 miles due to severe cramps in the muscles outside of the shin bone, both legs, running from below my knee down to my foot. I have never had these cramps b4. And, yes they were were cramps, not use injury. The leg pain I originally went to the specialist about (referred to above) felt OK, but the new shin "cramps" made me stop. I actually took my shoes off and walked home in my socks. whew.

    Thanks for any help. If the new shoes don't work, my next step is a Sports Dr., and if no luck after that, I'll try being a big, fat couch potato.

    posted almost 2 years ago | edited almost 2 years ago

  • Jane D.
    Jane D. Sendmail

    Ack! No couch taters! OK-hopefully you had a good assessment from somebody who really knows what they are doing. The treadmill videotaping was pretty much useless. Treadmill running doesn't correlate to overland running when it comes to biomechanics.

    Cramps are interesting. Most cramps are nutritionally based, so looking at your nutrition/supplementation (or lack thereof :) might be in order.

    Now, I have had some experience with some folks who are not relaxed when they run; that is, they run "stiff legged" and the muscle along the lateral (outside) part of the shin, called the tibialis anterior, never gets a chance to relax, and is therefore overworked. This can also occur when running on unstable conditions, ice, snow, cobblestones, in the dark when you are unsure of footing etc..

    ALSO, running in stability shoes if you don't need them can cause that pain because a stability shoe will force a neutral runner to stay on the outside of the foot too long, straining the tibialis anterior. Look at your old 1063's. Look at the forefoot wear (not the heel). Is the wear all along the inside of the forefoot from the big toe down? That's an indicator that you need stability. If not, is the wear more to the outside? If that's the case, go back to the running store and tell them to re-evaluate. Could it be that your old shoes were worn out and you were still running in them? That could cause the original pain.

    Going to a sports doc to rule out anything serious is a good idea, though I'm guessing that the proper shoes, some good old fashioned massage by a qualified therapist, a little rest and a Hail Mary will do the trick!

    posted almost 2 years ago

  • Dallas
    Dallas Sendmail

    I can't imagine this is normal in any way. Your new shoes I'm sure altered how you run in some way. I got injured when I got orthotics put in my shoes to recover from a different injury as it changed how my foot landed. Consider trying Vibram Five Finger shoes or shortening your stride(higher cadence) as possible solutions.

    posted almost 2 years ago

  • Nick
    Nick Sendmail

    Jeff,

    Switching from a neutral shoe to a stability shoe will take a small transition period, since the new stability shoes will work your muscles differently.

    Some muscle soreness can even occur when you go from an old pair of shoes to a new pair (same make & model).

    Good luck,

    - Nick

    posted almost 2 years ago

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