I Have Achilles Pain When I Run in New Running Shoes

Achilles pain that starts when you run in new running shoes may feel like aching, pulling, or tightness at the back of your ankle as your Achilles adjusts to a different shoe.

If your Achilles felt fine in your old running shoes but starts hurting after you switch to a new pair, the change in the shoe itself may be important. Even when the new shoes feel comfortable walking around, they can place your foot and ankle in a slightly different position while you run, changing how much work your Achilles tendon and calf muscles have to do.

A change in heel-to-toe drop is especially noticeable because it changes how your ankle moves while you run. If the new shoes have a lower heel or otherwise require more ankle movement than you are used to, your Achilles may suddenly be asked to work differently, leaving it sore or tight before you have had time to adjust.

The New Shoes Change How Your Achilles Works

A different shoe design can change the amount of work your Achilles handles with every stride.

Your Achilles tendon connects your calf muscles to your heel and helps you push away from the ground when you run. If your new shoes change your heel position, cushioning, or how your foot rolls through the stride, your calf and Achilles may have to handle the movement differently, which can bring on pain that you did not have in your previous shoes.

The Pain Gets Stronger As You Keep Running

Repeated strides can make the new shoe-related stress more noticeable as your run continues.

You may start your run with only a slight ache and then notice the Achilles becoming tighter or more painful after several minutes. As your calf muscles fatigue, the tendon continues working through every stride, so a change that seemed minor at the beginning of the run can become much harder to ignore as you keep going.

Why Your Achilles Pain Keeps Returning

Your Achilles has a hard time healing when blood flow and circulation are limited.

Tendons, ligaments, and other soft tissues naturally receive less blood supply than many other parts of the body. Because of this, they often take longer to heal after repeated stress or injury, leaving you more vulnerable to lingering pain and a cycle of reinjury.

When circulation through the area remains limited, injured tissues have a harder time receiving the vital oxygen and nutrients they need to repair and heal. This can leave your Achilles feeling stiff, tight, weak, or painful during everyday movement and activity.

What Can Help Your Achilles Feel Better

Your Achilles starts feeling better when blood flow and circulation improve.

Chinese herbs have been used for centuries to promote healthy blood flow and circulation. Their medicinal properties help break up stagnant blood and fluids that remain trapped around injured tissues, interfering with circulation. As circulation improves, blood flows more freely through the area, allowing those tissues to receive the oxygen and nutrients they need to heal properly.

Topical herbal remedies made with these Chinese herbs can help relieve pain while improving blood flow and circulation to injured tissues. The right product depends on your symptoms and whether you're in the acute or chronic stage of recovery.

If you have pain, swelling, inflammation, or bruising, Acute Sinew Liniment helps relieve these symptoms by increasing circulation and dispersing stagnant blood and fluids around the injured area to speed recovery. During the acute stage of healing, getting circulation moving early allows injured tissues to receive the fresh blood, oxygen, and nutrients they need to repair and heal.

If your injured area is especially swollen, red, or warm to the touch after a recent injury or flare-up, Sinew Herbal Ice is also used to reduce swelling and inflammation while restoring normal circulation so you can quickly regain range of motion. While traditional ice is commonly used to reduce swelling, Sinew Herbal Ice acts as an ice alternative to reduce swelling and inflammation while also dispersing accumulated blood and fluids to speed the healing process.

If you no longer have swelling or inflammation, but still have pain, stiffness, weakness, or sensitivity in cold and damp weather, Chronic Sinew Liniment helps relieve these symptoms by strongly stimulating circulation and increasing blood supply to injured tendons and ligaments to promote their healing. This is especially important because tendons and ligaments naturally receive less blood supply, which is why chronic injuries can take longer to heal.

If you have residual pain and stiffness, or the area becomes more painful in cold weather, Sinew Injury Poultice is also used to significantly stimulate circulation to injured tendons and ligaments to further promote their healing. By strongly increasing circulation, it counteracts the reduced blood flow caused by cold weather that commonly aggravates chronic tendon and ligament injuries.

If you exercise, play sports, or do other strenuous activities, Sinew Sports Massage Oil warms and stimulates muscles for exertion and relieves muscle tightness and soreness after activity. Warming and preparing your muscles before activity can improve flexibility, enhance performance, and reduce the risk of injury.

Frequently Asked Questions

You may also find these commonly asked questions helpful.

Why Does My Achilles Hurt When I Run In New Running Shoes?

Your Achilles may hurt because the new shoes change how your foot and ankle move, placing a different demand on your Achilles tendon and calf muscles.

Can New Running Shoes Cause Achilles Pain?

Yes. A sudden change in heel height, shoe design, cushioning, or fit can change how your Achilles works during running.

Why Does My Achilles Hurt More The Longer I Run In New Shoes?

Repeated strides can make the new demand on your Achilles more noticeable as your calf muscles fatigue during the run.

Can A Lower Heel In A Running Shoe Hurt Your Achilles?

A lower heel can require more ankle movement during running, which may increase the work your Achilles tendon has to handle.

Should I Stop Running If New Running Shoes Cause Achilles Pain?

If your Achilles pain is persistent, severe, or worsening while you run, reducing activity and having the problem evaluated can help prevent further injury.

The information provided here is intended to help you better understand your symptoms and recovery, but it is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.

Persistent, severe, or worsening symptoms should be evaluated by a qualified healthcare professional.