On the whim of some friends, I decided to join the local soccer team for some kicks while in college. Like most early twenty year olds, we played as if were challenging for the World Cup. Unfortunately, my season was cut short after a nasty slide tackle causing a plantar flexion, inversion sprain of my left ankle.
Not bad, I thought. I couple of weeks and I would be back out there playing soccer, running, and doing the occasional triathlon. Not so. After doing some self-care, I found myself still struggling to walk to the car after class. After seeking medical care and ruling out a fracture, the best answer given was that some temporary soft tissue damage occurred. Rest, ice, elevation and physical therapy were the words of the wise. Two months later the situation was still the same. The walk to the car after class was still an agonizing struggle. It looked bad. I went back to the physical therapist and the sports medicine doctor for another evaluation but no one could figure out the cause of my pain. At that point, the medical doctor ordered a MRI. On film revealed the culprit a congential anomaly of the talus-calcaneus joint. This particular joint works in conjunction with three movable articulations or facets. In my case, one these facets was and managed to get aggravated in the injury. The experts considered me lucky to be pain-free before the incident and that the chances for a pain-free recovery were slim.
After the results of the MRI, the sports medicine team referred me to a podiatrist. Although he was a nice and competent person with a running background, he prognosticated bad news. As he knew it, my running career was over otherwise crippling arthritis would be in my near future. Either way, a complete set of rigid orthotics may offer some relief to the debilitating pain. In short, after a trial of two months, the orthotics found the bottom of my trashcan.
With my hands thrown up in the air and the running shoes getting dusty, I conceded my life to the bleachers. I was certain my athletic aspirations were gone.
A year later, I met a talented physical medicine specialist and future chiropractor that convinced me to visit his clinic. Frustrated with the current state of affairs, I conceded. After four weeks of ankle mobilization, stretching, and balancing exercises, I felt some improvement—not enough to run a 5K, but enough to run five blocks.
Based on the architecture of my foot and the limited ankle range of motion, he recommended a fully supported shoe. Even though I did not over-pronate, my poor foot arch led him to believe that an anti-pronation shoe may help. To meet my needs, we started aggressive with the full-supported New Balance 1120.
After a couple more months of care and some light training in the fully supported running shoe, I entered my first race some two years after the initial injury. The race was a flop in terms of time, but with my encouraging wife by my side, I finished without walking. Goal accomplished!
Over the next year, I transitioned to running a couple of half marathons. Although I felt pain while running, especially after the 60-minute mark, I could handle it. And when it came to the short runs I hardly even noticed it. I was just happy to be out there.
Just when life was getting back on track, things changed. This year my running shoe company decided to discontinue my running shoe. I originally started with the New Balance 1120, but after a year of running, I switched to the much lighter 764. It had the same anti-pronation features, but did not have that chunky feel to them; and it did not increase my discomfort when running. Over the next few years, I changed right along with New Balance. When they changed the 764 to the 765, I did not care because it felt the same.
Now in 2005 something happened in the New Balance factory. The new and improved 766 to replace the 765 was different. It had a different look, a different feel, and most importantly, it hurt! The anti-pronation support was too strong and aggravated my ankle and suddenly I felt betrayed by a brand I had come to love and support. I even had matching socks and running shirts. Deeply devoted, I took the leap and tried something completely new for me. I switched to the New Balance 890. Highlighted as a cushioning shoe with less structural support than the 766, I gave them the old college try.
I finished four weeks of training in these shoes last week and the funny thing is my pain level is now zip, zero, and none. It goes to show that the quest of the ailing athlete is to keep trying for something and if you are lucky like me, you will find it. Until then, keep trying.
Matthew Amman is a triathlete and chiropractor in Milwaukee, WI.
7/7/2005
