track fan

Most people take the needles out before they wipe themselves.

Sounds like you are back at it. How's the orthotic working?

How is the weather there this time of year? I'm looking for a place to bring my bike on a little vacation. It needs to train.

Cute Burt, not everyone is a studly as me ;)

Hi Auntie, I am not wearing my orthotic to run in yet, I just have been wearing them during the day in my regular shoes. I am going to check with John on Thursday about the fit and see about starting to wear them when running. It is spectacular here right now ~70F and sunny, beautiful. Your bike would love it!! And so would we!

Ooh, that weather does sound perfect! Blue bike would be so very happy.

I don't know if I buy the orthotic thing.. that is what the PT/orthopedic doctor wanted me to do, especially with my super high arched (cavus) feet, which are the worst possible for running. I decided the foot needs more, not less flexibility, and went with the calf support instead and vey flexible shoes. so far it has worked fine. I still have a really goofy gait and foot landing though, but I don't know that that can be corrected. have you tried the nike frees?

Hi Scott, I was wearing Nike Frees and low profile shoes exclusively before this injury. I have severe tibial rotation (it doesn't take a professional to see it) and it means when I land my leg is rotated and my tibia takes all the force. I don't like the idea of orthotics, at the same time my doctor is not someone who would suggest them to everyone (unlike many podiatrists). John is a runner, works on lots of runners (Ryan Hall flies in regularly to see him) and he thinks that it is necessary if I want to continue running without stress fractures. There are no exercises I can do, since it is not weak hip flexors or quads .. it is pathologic. So ... I told him I would give it a try. I am not sure I will do it forever, but I think I will try it out and see what happens. My thought is that if I can ameliorate some of the pounds of pressure say on my long runs - it would go a long way into keep healthy. But, it is an experiment of sorts for me ... I plan on continuing to wear my usual low profile shoes for most of my training, with the orthotic for a few runs/week.

that kind of sounds like what I do too... maybe I would benefit from orthotics? your doctor sounds more thorough than what they did when I got injured- just a quick cursory look by the doctor, then sent to the PT to pay huge $$$ to play with rubber bands.

I land funny- my feet are kind of outwardly pigeon toed- so I bet I torque that tibial bone too (which is why I get shin splints). Well, next time I am in AZ I will talk to your doctor!

You would love John and you definitely need to come this way! I need to get you an invitation to give a talk. What study section do you sit on? Have you ever heard of the iPlant collaborative? I need to find the right the group to talk to - that would be most interested in your research.

I would say if what you are doing isn't causing you to miss any days of running, it must be working ;-) and I wouldn't change it a bit ... it does sound like you have a little bit of the same problem as me. My right foot points out, my left does not (the MRI should severe problems in my right leg too, but that is not the one that caused me so much problem -weird). I think my other problem is that I pronate super super bad on my left foot (the side that caused me the recent troubles). I have to say, like you, I am a skeptic, but I really trust John (he is so cool).

Bonnie, it would be fun to visit sometime! I am on PCMB (prokaryotic cell and molecular biology) study section. I know there is a really good plant group at Arizona, and some really good metalloenzyme people (I have met John Enemark in biochemistry for example). we need to get you to USU to visit too, I will have to see who the contact people would be in your area...