Best Shoes for Insertional Achilles Tendonitis
He runs a biomechanical assessment clinic, advises on footwear and custom orthotics.
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Today, I’m going to talk you through our 3 most recommended shoes if you’re suffering from Insertional Achilles Tendonitis. The term tendonitis can be interchanged between tendinopathy and tendonitis. One infers that there’s some inflammation within the tendon, while the other implies that there isn’t any inflammation. Scientists debate this, but we’ll use the name interchangeably throughout the article to make life easier.
James McCormack is a Physical Therapist specialising in knee, foot & ankle injuries. www.flawlessphysio.co.uk participates in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. The money earned from this helps us to create free educational content.
Heel to Toe Drop
So, the 3 shoes we will discuss today are the Brooks Adrenaline GTS 23, the Asics Gel-Kayano 30 and the New Balance 880 v13. First, we will talk about heel-to-toe drop, as that’s probably the most important aspect to consider. So, heel-to-toe drop refers to the height from the back to the front of the shoe. Ideally, with Insertional Achilles tendinitis, we want a higher heel drop that lifts the heel, takes the pressure off the back of the Achilles, attaches to the heel, and usually provides pain relief.
We have some pretty solid evidence that using a heel lift within a shoe reduces pain in the Achilles and mid-portion of the Achilles. So, we can do that with a built-in heel lift within the shoe. So, within the Brooks Adrenaline GTS, we’ve got a 12mm heel drop and 10mm in the Asics and the New Balance. So when we’re thinking about Heel To Toe drop, if you opt for a shoe that’s not in these 3, probably think about getting something that’s at least 10 ms or above.
Cushioning
The second most important thing you might want to consider is the type of cushioning in the shoe and the amount of support you might get from that shoe, depending on the activity you want to do. The types of cushioning play different roles as they absorb force in different ways through different activities.
Brooks Adrenaline 23 GTS
So, the first that we’re going to talk about is the Brooks Adrenaline GTS 23; it has a unique style of cushioning and stability. It’s got what they call a guide rail system, which provides more durable support and high-density foam on the outside of the shoe on both sides, which helps to guide your foot through the gait cycle.
It tries to minimize movement from left to right, which means it has quite firm, responsive cushioning. When you press down and work your way through, it feels like it’s giving you some responsive feedback and pushing your foot off rather than allowing it to sink into it and then push back out with less energy than before.
Asics Gel Kayano 30
Another type of stable shoe that works in a different man is the Asics Gel-Kayano 30. It’s Asic’s most stable type of shoe, and they have a traditional medial posting, so you can see this grey part on the inner aspect of the shoe is a different colour than the white outer foam. It helps to put a slight tilt on the heels so it turns your heels slightly outward.
If you think with normal pronation movements as we move inward, some people struggle to control that motion. This can work well for those, depending on what you like to feel in the shoe. If you feel like you need some arch support, this is probably the shoe for you, as opposed to Brooks’ guide rail system.
New Balance 880 V13
If you’re looking for a neutral shoe, we recommend the New Balance 880. The v13 is one of the best models that it’s released. Historically, the 880 was normally used just for walking. Still, they’ve created a really high-density foam called a Fresh Foam X, which makes it much more durable but also responsive when you run, so if you’ve got an Insertional Achilles Tendinopathy.
This is an excellent option if you’re working your way back to running and want a neutral shoe. Neutral means that the bed of the shoe isn’t tilted one way or the other; it’s completely flat, giving you a nice, stable ride. It’s quite firm cushioning, and it’s quite responsive overall.
There are a few things to consider. The main one is the heel drop. Try to keep it 10 mm or above. If you’re looking for a general stable shoe, we’ll look at the Brooks. If you’re looking for some arch support, we’ll think about the Gel-Kayano 30. If you want a neutral, responsive shoe, we’ll consider the New Balance 880 v13.
Our YouTube video on Shoes for Insertional Achilles Tendonitis
Product Reviews with Flawless Physio
James McCormack, a lower limb specialist who is an expert in treating foot conditions, wrote this article.
This is not medical advice. We recommend a consultation with a medical professional such as James McCormack if you are experiencing any of the symptoms discussed in this article. James offers weekly online physiotherapy appointments and face-to-face appointments at his London clinic.
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We are specialists in treating foot conditions such as Insertional Achilles Tendonitis, and you can see one of our Foot and Ankle Specialists in our clinic in Soho.
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