So you don’t think I’m a good candidate for going to a shoe with a less elevated heel (like a Nike Free, for ex.) and getting rid of my orthotics altogether as I continue to work on the forefoot/midfoot landing?

Of course, I’m not talking about going out & doing 4 or 5 miles w/o the orthotics. I’m thinking of dropping back to 1.5 miles & sort of “starting over.”

Thanks…..Rich

I noticed that I still had the stiff legs & hips, so I immediately started stretching. That helped a little. Then I decided to incorporate forefoot running into my runs. I started out while running only about 2-1/2 miles total. I would run about 1-1/4 mile with a heel strike, then I could convert to forefoot running while going up a hill, and would finish the rest of the run w/a forefoot landing.

I gradually began increasing my mileage, staying well within the 10% rule. I experienced occasional bouts of tender pads on the balls of my feet, but never true pain. My feet would be better by the next morning.

I was doing great – no stiff legs or hips, no strange knee pains, no calf or Achilles Tendon problems – just the occasional tenderness on the balls of the feet (which seemed to be improving).

One evening in very early October ’09 I felt so good that I increased my mileage (still within the 10%), and increased my speed. I felt some actual pain underneath the 4th metatarsal of my left foot near the end of my run. I stopped running for a week, then went back at it again.

The pain held off for about a mile, then it came back. I decided to try to run through it – bad idea. I got about 3-1/2 miles into my nearly 5 mile run, and had to walk back home, limping all the way.

I went to a podiatrist, briefly telling hm about my experience above. When I got to the part about the forefoot strike, he said, “Why did you do that? Where did you get that idea?” Let’s just say he had never heard of the forefoot running strike, and I don’t think he’s too conducive to a paradigm shift.

He said it sounds like a stress fracture, so he took X-rays. He showed me the X-rays and said the shape of my foot sets me up for metatarsal injuries (using the heel strike). He said I have Metatarsus Adductus. He said no running or fast walking for 8 weeks minimum, and had me in an aircast for 4 weeks. I’m okay with that, because I don’t want to do permanent damage.

I’ve been doing some looking on the Internet, and I believe I have a mild case of Metatarsus Adductus. The bones are somewhat curved, but not skewed or twisted drastically.

Should I try a newer, better pair of orthotics & go back to heel strike? Or should I continue with working on the forefoot strike and just back off a little, but this time do it without the orthotics? Is a foot with mild Metatarsus Adductus one that should never, EVER be subjected to forefoot running?

I know this has been a long post, but I’m at my wit’s end trying to figure out what to do. I loved running without the leg/knee/hip issues when I was running with the forefoot strike, but at least I was able to stretch after running & keep on going 3X a week with the mild/moderate aches/pains. Please – HELP!

Rich