Incorrect shoe advice - Gear

cyberboy

23/10/2002 at 18:52

A certain running chain let, lets call them Perspirationstore, confidently told me that I am a servere 'overpronator' and need the stability offered by Asics Gel Kayono viii (105.00).

They seemed to know what they were talking about so I purchased a pair. Now some 150-200 miles later I am visiting a physio privately for knee problems. I cannot say that the new shoes are the problem but it's cetainly possible. The physio who spent nearly an hour examining me told me that I am much more suited to a neutral shoes and should not buy a shoe for over pronation next time.

Clearly, I would have been far better off going to a high street non-specialist sports shop where no such advice would have been given.

I wonder how many other runners have been sold inappropriate shoes from these 'specialists'.

cyberboy

23/10/2002 at 18:56

PS. sorry about the awful spelling/typing! I must read these things more carefully before submitting.

Evil DD

24/10/2002 at 08:47

Same thing here,went to a so called specialist in Harrods (Sweatshop). Well they put me in a pair of Asics MC+ as I pronate badly(according to them)One FLM and a wrecked knee later my pyhsio says no chance I should be in stability shoes as I am a supinator! Got Nike pegs now but the damage has been done.
Avoid this store at all costs,they are clueless.

Chaos

24/10/2002 at 09:38

Was it one of the girls in there? I got the same advice despite being a fairly lightweight mild-pronator. It was as if they were so desperately worried about getting sued for selling neutral shoes to severe pronators that they do the complete opposite.

fat face

24/10/2002 at 09:56

I am confused about all this pronation/supination stuff. Mrs FF is a physio and one day we were chatting about pronation/supination. I explained what I thought it was (basically, this was what I had read in magazines and been told in sports shops) and it appears to be the exact opposite of what a physio is taught to believe it is.
I am still confused about it all.

cyberboy

24/10/2002 at 10:17

FF, you and me both. I hope I'm not misquoting her, but the physio I saw yesterday described it as being flat-footed. What was Mrs FF's explanation?

Evil DD

24/10/2002 at 11:31

All I know is I have rigid feet with high arches,my foot strike comes from the outside of the heel down the outside of my foot and push off from the toes.I think that is supination.

It was not one of the girls in Sweatshop,as I was new to running I thought thye knew their stuff,but after a year or so of running and reading RW I now know they are pretty useless in shoe selection.They even put me on the Adidas foot scan,how could they get that wrong?
Better training required for the Sweatshop team if you ask me!

Evil DD

24/10/2002 at 11:33

p.s Excuse the spelling.

p.p.s And moaning (hard day at work)

Gaz.

24/10/2002 at 12:42

I have had a moan about this before,
one specialist running shop said "I was a severe over pronator" and sold me NB854, I got injured,
went to another specialist running shop and he says that "I only over pronate slightly on my right foot, the left is neutral" and he sold me Nike Air Span Triax, so far I have done about 250 miles in them and they seem ok apart from that I get blisters on my right foot.

So who is telling the truth and do I have to go to another shop and get told a different story again and get sold more shoes............

fireinthebelly

24/10/2002 at 15:12

I have the same problem as gaz, I over pronate slightly on my left foot while the right is neutral. I also run in Span Triax and Asics 2060 and haven't had a problem with either.

ultra meerkat

24/10/2002 at 15:20

Like gaz, I've also moaned about this before...but when I started running (three months ago now) I was told by shop 1 that I was a nuetral runner and sold shoes accordingly. Had problems with them so went to shop 2 (with the shoes) and was told that actually, I overpronate, so now I have another pair of shoes. And guess what, I'm having problems with this new pair. Sigh.

Paulus

24/10/2002 at 15:39

I'll join the chorus ... I am an overpronator and I was sold Acis Gel Kayano by perspirationstore. However they knew that I was an orthotics user and according to my podiatrist I should always run in a neutral shoe, which the Kayano ain't!!
consequently developed persistent calf and achilles problems and stopped running for about 8 months, only just starting again
Was it coincidence that aforesaid Kayano was the most expensive (or damn close) running shoe in the shop ??

Mr A

24/10/2002 at 16:38

OK, so I'm going down to Runners Need in Camden on Saturday to get properly fitted for some running shoes (last time, I chose a pair myself, based on what I thought I was and what had been written in RW).

Does anyone have experience of Runners Need?

cyberboy

24/10/2002 at 17:57

You know, I reckon the answer here could be to buy a neutral shoe if you're not sure and haven't had any previous problems.

Alternatively go see a sports injury physio or podiatrist and get a professional opinion. The 32 quid I spent on physio yesterday would have been saved on a neutral shoe costing considerably less.

ultra meerkat

25/10/2002 at 09:59

Mr A - yes, it was Runners Need who told me that I needed a neutral shoe when actually I'm an overpronater...

Shock and Awe

25/10/2002 at 10:22

This is all very confusing - What is the best way to get the right shoes if we can't even rely on the so called "specialist" shops?

I was recommended a stability shoe - (again more expensive). But I had problems with them early on, THOUGH they are comfotable now, after adjustments to lacing, insoles etc.

I'm hoping to get a new pair for Xmas - What do people think? How should I go about selecting them - do I need a professional opinion?

ultra meerkat

25/10/2002 at 10:30

Codfather - I couldn't agree more. I'm also confused about who to turn to if I did want professional advice...a podiatrist? A physio?

Paulus

25/10/2002 at 11:00

I seem to recall from the old RW forums (isn't this new one great!) that there was a place in Peterborough (I think?) that offered really good in-store assistance, gait analysis while running etc.
Everybody (on here) who'd used it recommended the company. Can't remember it's name I'm sure somebody'll know and post it here .... please

fireinthebelly

25/10/2002 at 16:04

A year ago when I bought my first proper running shoes I went to Sweatshop and the guy there said my left ankle collapsed and suggested Kayano (do they all?. To put my mind at rest took the Adidas footscan and that suggested the same. Having had sciatica just recently went to a physio who just had a look at me standing up and said the same. Left ankle, anti-pronation shoes without a doubt. So I believe that a physio or podiatrist can tell just by looking what your problem might be

HelenT

25/10/2002 at 20:01

I went to a running shop to get proper advise on my first pair of 'proper' running shoes about 2 months ago. As I have dodgy knees from an old injury (not running related incidently) I wear shaped insoles (can't remember proper name for them) to correct the alignment of my feet and knees, so didn't need any further support and was advised to go for cushioning. I tried on various pairs and was very happy with the ones I choose. I was pleased I'd gone to a specialist shop for advice.
However! I returned only this week to buy some warmer running gear and my mother (who also runs) asked me if I wanted another pair of twin skin socks for christmas (great! socks!) I said not to bother as I get blisters whether I wear them or not. Friendly shop assisant who had been working very hard at finding us the right clothes to fit then said it was my shoes that was the problem as they were probably too small and asked me what I had. I pointed them out on the shelves and said I'd bought them there (to which he went a bit quiet). Apparently they should be a whole size bigger than your normal trainers, and this is why I get blisters on the end of my toes pretty much every time I run. Anyway, he did give us two free pairs of socks and said that if I came back to get my next pair of trainers he'd give me a discount. The lad who sold me the shoes in the first place doesn't work there anymore.