Daily Mobility Exercises by Dr. Kelly Starrett › Forums › Foot/Ankle › Losing hope for ever achieving ankle flexibility. Shoe suggestions?

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    • 08/18/2013 at 9:24 pm #70419
      Avatar[email protected]
      Participant

      I need a women’s shoe that’s barefoot or as close as possible, and has a slip-resistant outsole OK for working at a restaurant. 

      I’ve been diligently trying to improve my squat and tight ankles (history of endurance sports plus repeated ankle sprains), but I just started a job as a food runner and 8 hour shifts in these clunky, platform clogs aren’t helping me out. The shoe must have a covered upper, not be “athletic-looking,” and must be non-slip: the kitchen floor is coated in a grease-mist from the fryers. My research so far has only led me to flat “looking” shoes with no specifications about heel-to-toe drop. Should I call the companies? Should I buy them and return them if they don’t feel flat enough? I need a solution soon. Thanks so much!
    • 08/19/2013 at 8:35 am #72626
      AvatarJohn Gomo
      Participant

      Check out VivoBarefoot – http://www.vivobarefoot.com/uk/

    • 08/19/2013 at 8:45 am #72627
      Avatar[email protected]
      Participant

      Lems barefoot shoe

      Inov 8
      New Balance
      Merrell 
      Vivobarefoot
      To be honest, before I knew about Kstar I had been in flat shoes for a year and I still don’t have ankle ROM.  still working on perhaps tight heel chord, calves, and shins.  
    • 08/19/2013 at 2:39 pm #72631
      AvatarAnonymous
      Guest

      You could call the company with questions.
      Going to a flatter shoe is a progression based on what you are currently wearing.
      It may take 1 or 2 pairs before you are at a shoe with zero difference.
      Transitioning to a flatter shoes asks alot more out of ankle rom and heel cord rom.
      Working with ankle rom, heel cord, calves is an important aspect so your body doesn’t make other compensations when looking for stability or slack within the system.
      Daniel if you have been working on ankle rom and are not seeing improvements you aren’t hitting the aspect that is causing your restriction.

    • 08/23/2013 at 12:18 am #72649
      AvatarMartin Repcek
      Participant

      Wear what is comfortable. Obviously avoid shoes with crazy high heels. There is no reason to sacrifice comfort for a flat shoe. High heels can exacerbate your problem but flat shoes won’t fix it.

      I’ve been working on trying to fix my complete lack of ankle ROM for about a year and a half now and I think I am finally making some progress. This a problem I’ve probably had for 25 years for all I know. That should give you and idea how bad off I am. I recognized years ago that right foot had a tendency to turn out and my right knee go valgus. At the time I just assumed it was some sort of genetic deformity and that there was nothing I could do about it. There may still be a small genetic component but I think it is about 99% fixable now that I’m wiser. I’ve fixed most of my hip problems and but full ankle ROM has eluded me. The typical symptom with a valgus knee is flat feet, or dropped navicular. This is not my problem at all. I couldn’t get my navicular to drop if I tried. My problem is that my foot is stuck in a high arch position that puts my foot tripod on a tilted plane. 
      I think I’ve narrowed my problem down to a super tight beef jerkied soleus muscle. My cuboid is being pushed out of place and my talus is kind of wedged up. My theory is the super tight soleus is pulling down on the head of the fibula causing a chain reaction of complete dysfunction. I know the knots in my soleus are ginormous. Smashing the inner thigh, TFL/ITB area, quads, and hamstrings. Anyway, after working at it for a year and a half I’ve probably gotten about 50%-70% ROM back. 
    • 08/23/2013 at 12:17 pm #72650
      Avatar[email protected]
      Participant

      but the super tight soleus is being fixed by bone saw…right?  

    • 09/25/2013 at 3:38 pm #72860
      AvatarKent Zelle
      Participant

      Same issue with my cuboid. Damn soleus!!! 🙂 Where’s the bone saw?! Using LAX ball on it is gnarly! But hopefully will help. Keep us updated, please.

    • 09/26/2013 at 2:54 pm #72872
      AvatarAnonymous
      Guest

      Introducing the Bone Saw: Calf Smash Redux

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