shoes?

[kr]

I am searching for just the right trail show. I wear Asics for road running. Also have a pair of Salomon Trail shoes. I did break an ankle (fibula) while trail running last November (wearing the Salomon). Can a pair of shoes help to prevent future injury?

[kr]

Well, this weekend i wore the Salomons again and turned my ankle more than once(no new broken bones)...decided they are just too stiff. I have settled on the Asics Gel Trail Attack-4 which seem to have flexibility. Has anyone worn these?

[mcdevitt1]

AVI TRAIL from AVIA. I would recommend these for you too.
Great Traction ...and just enough flexiblity without giving up support !
happy Trails to you !

[Pacific Coast Trail Runs]

I've bumped another shoe thread to the top for you to read, kr. You also might want to use the 'Search' function on the board and search in the messages, not the subjects.

As far as whether shoes can help prevent ankle injuries, some shoes definitely have your heel sitting lower than others - some brands run that way, such as Inov-8, and some models vary within a brand, such as the Vasque Blur sitting the heel lower than the Vasque Amp or Mercury.

Good luck finding something that works for you - it's such a personal preference kind of thing.

Sarah

[harrywalther]

this is your problem, kr: shoes that are designed to protect your feet are more prone to cause serious damage once they are pushed out of their 'envelope'. Shoes that are safer will require you to have stronger ankles to begin with, since they offer less of a comfort zone.

You can compare this to cars - which one offers the smoother ride on a bumpy fire road - Subaru, with a very low center of gravity and no truck suspension or, say Toyota Tundra, with a high center of gravity? The Tundra, of course. But which is safer on a lateral incline? The Subaru, since it won't keel over for the exact same reasons it's not so comfy on the fire road.

So in order to lower your chances of breaking your ankle you'd have to go with the shoes that add the least heel raise and overall sole thickness. And of course those will be the shoes that make you feel most like you *will* break an ankle before you get used to them and built up your ankle strength to the point where they actually will be safer for you.

I know, this is not much in terms of advice - just a reminder that there is always a trade off...

[Pacific Coast Trail Runs]

Yeah, I think we've discussed ankle-twisting and ankle strength before on this board.

Strong, non-twistable ankles really do come with time spent running on the trails. After over 15 years of running trail ultras, I can say that I haven't twisted my ankle badly enough to stop running for more than about 10 seconds in over 12 or 13 years.

One's ankles definitely get stronger and more adept at accepting the twists and turns and rocks and roots and slipping and sliding of trail running the more one does it.

[kr]

Thanks for all the input! I don't have anywhere near the experience that all of you have on trails...but I had run my share of trails and had never twisted an ankle before I wore these stiff shoes. What you are saying confirms my thinking that a more flexible shoe allows my feet to react to and absorb the varied terrain while this stiff shoe tipped and I took all the torque in my ankle...kind of like when I am wearing my Danskos and step on a rock.

It seems that rather than saying my new shoes will prevent an injury, this other shoe may have caused one.
I have purchased a light weight, flexible, low profile shoe by Acics...it is actually closer to my road shoes but can handle the ice and snow.

[robgendreau]

Don’t neglect the fit. You need a shoe that has no floppiness from side to side. Think of the sole of the shoe like a platform; if you slip off the side of it you’re more prone to put strain on your ankle. In stores the clerks sometimes only check the fit at the toes and heels. But put the shoe sideways on an incline and see if you are sliding from side in it. If so, get something narrower.

Inserts can also help if they have a well-formed heel cup; they also help to stabilize your foot inside.

Rob