9 replies to this topic

[jmcdon]

As I live in a place without a specialist running store I thought I would try and tap into the vast knowledge of this forum - I am not sure if this is a shoe question or an injury question.

I am currently suffering from some ITB pain, a problem that has cropped up occaisonly for me.  I am definitely at the 'mild' end of the spectrum and in the past stretching has always sorted the problem.  This time it is a bit worse so I have read around a bit and have read that bow legs make you more suscptible to this problem.

The question is:  does anyone know if there is a type of shoe that is suited to the particular(peculiar?) biomechanics of bow legged running?(I am quite high arched and while I definitely pronate I have no idea if it is overpronation or just normal).

I ask this question because I just bought a pair of 1090s that seem to exacerbate the problem - have previously been wearing 2090s.

Any advice or ideas would be much appreciated.

Jeremy

[moby]

jmcdon

Whilst no expert I think the best advice is that you see a podiatrist or make a vist to a specialist store when you can.  The advice is priceless if it helps keep you injury free.

I’m a bit bow legged and used to have ITB problems on and off.  I’d was running in ASICS Kayano’s at the time.

When I needed new shoes I went to a podiatry based running store and they suggested that most of the Asics shoes were probably too built up on the instep for me.

So, after trying out several different shoes on the treadmill (including 2080's) I ended up with a pair of Brooks Glycerine 3’s. The theory is they allow a more natural gait for me and don't push my feet out so much. Bit pricey but (touch wood) no ITB problems since.

[Wally]

Guys - I too have slightly bowed legs and after doing a lot of bike riding back 10/15 years ago, and running, I developed serious ITB probs - couldn't walk, bend my legs etc. A physio showed me a great stretch for that, which helps loosen my back, hammies - I do the stretch everyday just quickly in the morning, but particularly before a run or ride. The stretch is a mainstream one, but let me know if you'd like a decription of it.
I've also had some problems with 'shin splints', which I believe are related to my bow leggedness, because my arches are neutral. Having bowed legs would very slightly change the angle at which the feet hit the ground, ie: adding to a pronation situation. I've had podiatrists and phyios look at all this, and I've tried arch supports, but for me what has worked has been some good supportive shoes (initially, Brooks Beasts which were great), but importantly, heaps of stretching. There is a train of thought that we should take the focus off all the fancy expensive technology, and focus on biomechanically corrective measures. Remember, shin splints etc were hardly heard of before modern shoes came along.. If you want to know a great stretch for shin splints, let me know as well..
Cheers - Wal.

[jmcdon]

Thanks for the responses.  I will be back in Oz in 3 months so will look into expert assistance then.  I am doing a whole series of stretches and am seeing a physio today so I will see what he recommends.  I was already leaning toward the idea of less complicated shoes that don't intefere so much with running gait so I might experiment with some nuetral shoes. Hell, its only money.  Its a shame that all the advice given by shoe companies and running magazines seems to be geared toward flat-footed overpronators and doesn't even mention other biomechanical issues that might affect shoe choice.

[Craig the pod]

Jeremy
A neutral shoe is one option, but sometimes they tend to be a little soft and can still collapse out. One shoe I often recommend for the foot (and  leg) type you describe is the brooks vapor- it had a little bit of medial support, but is still quite firm on the lateral aspect. It is a great shoe for those who tend to heavily compress the outside of the shoe. It is a good no frills shoe which is often ignored because it doesn't have all the bells and whistles. I have had a few people report that the sales assistants thought that I had made an error in recommending them!
A bonus is that this shoe is relatively cheap.
Hope this helps
Craig

[jmcdon]

Thanks for the advice Craig - I think I will give them a go.  My physio's advice was to stop running (surprise surprise) for some time between two weeks "or much longer". Other than that he just waved an ultrasound at it. New shoes will definitely be cheaper and hopefully more useful than this 'treatment'.

[Tom D]

I went straight to a podiatrist and she recommended 3 different pairs of shoes, said to try them all on and pick the most comfortable one.

Go straight to a podiatrist and get the diagnosis first.

[Wally]

Jeremy - For what it's worth, as I mentioned earlier, the Brooks range of shoes that provide 'extra support' has been good for me. I'm on my 4th pair now, which is the Vapor - very comfy shoe, nice and light with subtle support that may assist in overpronating. Despite all this, I still keep up the stretching as if I can't rely on the shoe to correct any probs. Of course any practitioner will advise to stop running, which is very good advice, but I've never been able to take it..

Cheers - Wal.

[moby]

Interestingly we all seem to have found Brooks to be  a good option.

[Craig the pod]

With respect to the brooks shoes, in this instance I would avoid the adrenaline and the trance for the same reasons that the asics were giving some trouble- good medial support, crap lateral support.
Cheers
Craig