Achilles tendonitis??
 

I have played for 30 years and still play once a week but I am a first year umpire this year as well At 52 I work out 4-5 days a week and am in very good condition...no injuries from playing.


My first night was a month ago and I had purchased some black New Balance shoes. I did three games my first night and the next morning I could hardly walk due to severe soreness in both Achilles. Something I never had working out or playing. I am very active and try to get out for every call but I have never had soreness like this in my life. The next night I had to do two games and looked like a cripple out there.

It has been a month and although the pain has subsided but if I do 2 or more games by the end of the night it flares up again.

Anyone ever experienced this?

No, but it could be related to how your shoes fit. If too wide or tied loosely, your feet will slip sideways and make things stiffen and hurt.

Plantar fasciitis (say "PLAN-ter fash-ee-EYE-tus") is the most common cause of heel pain. The plantar fascia is the flat band of tissue (ligament) that connects your heel bone to your toes. It supports the arch of your foot. If you strain your plantar fascia, it gets weak, swollen, and irritated (inflamed).

That's what it sounds like...take it from an umpire that got that condition last season. It took a year to finally get over it.

My solution were some shoe inserts that lifts the heel. Purchased several sets and put them in all my shoes. I was able to work games last year because of the inserts.

I still wear the inserts...don't want the condition to come back.

I used to have this same issue. It wasn't shoes, but tight calf muscles pulled on the achilles. I had lived with it for years while umpiring, finally went to orthopedist and he diagnosed it right away. After a lot of stretching and other exercises, the condition was cured. Still have to do my exercises, but no longer have this issue.

+1

Find a Walmart or other local store with the Dr. Scholls machine that diagnoses the best generic insert, cost about $60 per set. Hundreds of dollars cheaper than going to a podiatrist who will have custom made inserts made.

Agree with Larry (DNTXUM P), too; google on line for the appropriate stretching exercises for plantar fasciatis. The combination of inserts and exercises has saved me massive amounts of pain and limited mobility over the years.

I did some research on a runners forum. Sometimes Achilles pain can be cause by shoes that have a too ridged or inflexible sole. My New Balance shoes have a hard molded sole that is very stiff compared to my regular running shoes. So every time you make a fast move to get out from behind the plate the Achilles takes the brunt of the force because the the sole does not give at all.

I bought some new black Asics running shoes yesterday. Will report back after I try them. I don`t have any games until Wed.

Forgot to add that I tried K-Tape for my Achilles. I was skeptical but it helped.

As we get older things like this happen to all of us.
My two favorite remedies are good old-fashioned ice treatments for more immediate relief; and a great little product called Blue Emu that promotes healing.

Are your plate shoes the New Balance 460's? While they are quite stiff when new, I find them to be the most comfortable shoes I own, once broken in. This of course assumes a good fit, etc.

I suffer from both plantar fasciitis and Achilles tendonitis. It is a pain when I umpire and officiate (which is almost daily). I finally was referred to specialist a couple months ago. He made me get new shoes (New Balance) with an insert.

My Achilles tendonitis comes from the way my feet roll when I walk or run. As a result the tendon basically rubs along the back of my heel causing inflammation. The new shoes and insert help control the rolling action, and have lessened the pain. The new inserts have also held alleviate the fasciitis as well.

I also have very tight calf muscles which does not help either condition.

My suggestion would be to go to a specialist or to a running shoe store where they can analyze your walking / running position and can suggest shoes that can help.

I do think the set position umpires get into a hundred or more times per game also can impact these conditions.

I just got over a case of gout. I didn't miss a game but it sure didn't feel good.

Chap- have you ever gone to a chiropractor or PT to have myofascial therapy? It hurts like all get out but it helps immensely.

Nope.