Blaise Dubois, the great running maestro from the Great North and founder of The Running Clinic, is never shy when it comes to expressing his well-researched, expert opinions about form, footwear, and function. The following essay by Blaise, “10 Good Reasons to Run in PECH shoes (Pronation control and/or Elevated Cushioned Heel)”, recently appeared on the Running Clinic’s site and is enthusiastically reposted here. Also, on February 24-26, 2012, Blaise and the Running Clinic will once again be conducting “New Trends in the Prevention of Running Injuries”, but this time the conference will be held in the Midwest. Kyle Roberts who owns the Revolution Natural Running Store in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, will be hosting the three-day course. Places are still available for this blockbuster event. Click here for info. –NRC
1o Good Reasons to Run in PECH shoes (Pronation control and/or Elevated Cushioned Heel)
Indeed, we will recommend to a certain percentage of runners to wear PECH shoes. There are 3 criterias the runner should meet for this recommendation:
1- I’ve been running with the same shoes for more than a year and I’m completely adapted to these (I run on a regular basis).
2- I’m never injured
3- I have no interests in improving my performances.
This corresponds to less than 10% of all runners.
Another 1% of the running population should also wear this type of shoe for its high heel, its stiffness, its absorbing features, its capacity to unload pressure points, etc.
The special conditions to justify this choice are:
4- I have an acute pain condition (less than a month) of the posterior chain (calf, Achilles tendon, posterior tibia, plantar fascia).
5- I have metatarsalgia or chronic fat pad syndrome (talalgia) that doesn’t react to conservative treatment and tissue adaptation approach.
6- I’m an advanced diabetic and show important peripheral neuropathies.
7- I’m a trail runner who runs night ultra-trails and when I run overnight I am unable to see the landforms and biomechanically protect myself with proper mechanics.
8- I’ve had a trauma that resulted to an extremely rare pathological foot, for example a complex fracture (badly consolidated) of a metatarsal bone with plantar angulation or also a surgical fixation of the hallux metatarsophalangeal joint.
9- I’ve had a neurological paralysis significantly affecting the triceps surae.
10- I’m an Inuit that runs on sharp ice chunks at a -40 degrees Celsius
Where can you purchase PECH shoes?
Dick’s Sports and any tradiotional running shoe store that says we run heel to toe and the foot needs “help and support”.
Dr. Mark
This is funny. I couldn’t believe my eyes when I first saw the link with this big clompy ‘high heel’, I thought I was on the wrong website for a second. I had to click on it to see who could possibly say such a monstrosity was a good idea. Haha.
Hi,
I have metatarsalgia. I have a lot of pain when I run 4+ miles.
I just purchased custom orthotics from a podiatrist.
Should I try minimalist shoes instead of orthotics?
Thanks.