Assymetrical problems fixed!!! - I think, I hope!

[D'Artagnan1673]

I had been noticing some heel and ankle pain in my lead foot after a few weeks of using my new Adidas Assymetrical 2000 Fencing Shoes. Other people had commented about the Assymetricals causing this problem with many fencers.

I think I may have a slight idea of why this is.

Remember my comment that most fencers don't use fencing shoes because they don't do fencing footwork per se? I think that's the reason!

Over the past 2-3 weeks of Epee fencing, I've allowed my footwork to get sloppy and incorporate bounces. However, weeks before that at a foil tournament, I wore the shoes through 7 bouts and didn't have a problem. Why? I think because my footwork was very clean and proper. The Assymetricals' lack of ankle support doesn't help the problem at all. Still, I think that by polishing my footwork again, I should be rid of my ankle problems.

I fenced in my Nike' cross trainers last night and still experienced ankle pain, although not to the extent as I usually do. I bought a pair of ankle and heel supporters at Wal-Mart today. After trying them out, I have wasted 11 dollars. My back and knees immediately started to hurt. It seems that the Assymetricals are perfectly fine provided you fence with clean footwork. What I have a tendency to do is land on the balls of my feet rather than the heel of my lead foot. A lot of times, I leap back and land on the front part of my lead foot and then rock back preparing to attack. I really think that is what is hurting my ankles, not my shoes.

Any comments? Does this make sense?

[Event Horizon]

D`art, I have one question. Since your back and ankle's started to give you pain after wearing the supporters, do you think maybe the supporters pushed your spine out of alignment? Have you thought about seeing a chiropractor? Earlier this year I had some really bad lower back problems. This problem persisted off and on over the years but never went to see a chiroparctor about it until recently. They weren't due to Fencing but after going to the chiropractor and having my spine adjusted on a regular basis, I feel much better. Sometimes people have spine missalignment and attribute their problems to something else that's not causing it.

[achilleus]

The ankle problems that the assymetricals are thought to caused by the fact that the trailing foot is angled. The sloping midsole puts extra stress on the ankle, and has been causing problem with some athletes.

It's not poor footwork, or poor support, but a rather unique and strange design.

[Reebek]

I too have experienced some front foot ankle problems with the Asymetricals. I thought it was just me and my poor footwork until I saw your post. I ended up spraining my ankle twice in a four week period (the second time in the warmup before my event at a NAC). Since getting an industrial strength brace, things have been better, though I wouldn't think of fencing without the brace just yet - and it's been since March.

I wondered if perhaps the shoes tried to reinforce the inside of the shoe when I tend to lean toward the outside. ..just speculation. I didn't have any problems with my D'Arts, they were just wearing out too fast.