Update on Ankle Pain

I had some severe ankle pain in January associated with running (http://forums.teamestrogen.com/showthread.php?t=12550). I ended up seeing a sports medicine/ankle & foot specialist. He told me that I over-pronate in both ankles and especially in the right ankle. We did molds for orthotics and I picked them up 4 weeks later. Since then, my running has gotten worse: my legs feel tired and heavy during the run to the point where my times have dropped off and I feel the need to do some walking again. I'm wondering if the simple addition of the orthotics is affecting which muscles are being used the most, requiring me to start training new muscles. Does this make sense? How long do I give this before I go back to the doctor?

Yup. We always warn our patients that when they begin to use their new orthotics suddenly the muscles are working in a new (better) functional postion. They will get tired.

You are retraining muscles and muscle firing patterns.

We have our patients return in 2 to 3 weeks for final adjustments to their orthotics, if needed. It takes about a week just to "break in" the orthotics adding an hour a day, then a couple weeks to adjust to the new functional position.

If you are in pain (as opposed to just being tired/sore like after a work out), please call your orthotist so they can see how the orthotics are doing with you.

How far are you running in them? When I got new orthotics, my doctor had me just walk in them at first. Wear them 1 hr a day for a couple days, then a few hours, then walk a lot, then start running, etc. Changes in the foot can affect everything up through your back. If you have pain, go back for an adjustment. Tiredness and muscle soreness to some extent is normal.