Max's Question? Sent: Friday, October 19, 2012 1:07 PM
To: H., BILL
Cc: clyde peach
Subject: RUNNING FOLLOW
Hi Bill, my name is Max Lockwood. I write/do reviews for a running
trade journal, Running Insight. I am doing a review of Clyde's Hallux
Limitus/Rigidus blades/inserts.
I am a runner who has suffered with Hallux limitus for years. Clyde
just sent me some samples to try out. He mentions you as someone(a
runner) who has benefited from using them to improve range of motion and
ability of your big toe.
As a fellow runner I would love to get some additional insight.
* How many miles do you run with them per week?
* What was your running like before using them?
* Do you have a severe case of rigidus/limitus?
* are you a competitive runner/racer?
* have they helped with the condition in general or only when using
them?
Feel free to provide any additional info as it pertains to the blades,
your running, advocacy of the product, etc.
I look forward to hearing from you
Regards,
Max
Bill's Answer - Lockwood [mailto:
max.lockwood@gmail.com
| Max, I am glad to answer any questions you may have.
I am 49 years old, and have been running for 4-5 years. I have had to
have cheilectomy surgery to remove bone spurs from each of my first toe
joints…my right foot was operated on in November of 2010 and my left
foot in April of 2012. As I was recovering from surgery I had an
incident with my left toe that created a turf toe-like effect in around
July of this year, which set back my recovery.
I was experiencing the pain of Hallux Limitus before I began running, so
I am not sold that running is the cause of the condition.
I still suffer from hallux limitus but have recovered from the surgeries
and run with much less pain since the bone spurs were removed. The
two surgeons I worked with both told me that I basically have no
cartilage in the joints of my first toe. Therefore, with each step I
have bone against bone if I try to bend my first to backwards more than
20 degrees, so I cannot run pain free. Since I cannot bend my toes
backward, I get very little if any power or strength from my big toe.
I have tried countless over the counter orthotics with little to no
success, but I did settle on using a red cushioned orthotic from Spenco
in which I was cutting out the first toe area. I am still using this
in conjunction with Clyde’s inserts I have been using lately, by placing
the Spenco cushion orthotic on top of the orthotic with the Morton’s reverse
extension from Clyde. The shoes I use are Saucony Mirage II. I had
been running in the Saucony Kinvara, but the Mirage adds some pronation
control that keeps me from putting excessive weight on my big toe.
To answer your questions:
• I began marathon-type training in January 2010, and have been
running an average of 50 miles per week since that time, except for the
time periods I was recovering from surgery. I am running that many miles
per week currently as well. I have run four marathons during this
time.
• Note that I just ordered one for my left foot in mid-September
and a pair that I received last Friday. Running before using them
since my surgeries has been difficult since I have the weakness that is
caused by hallux limitus, since I cannot bend my toe backwards or push
off effectively. I never realized how much this was impacting my speed
until I used Clyde’s inserts. Running since my surgery has been less
painful, but would become painful if I accidently bent it backwards too
far.
• I would say yes, I still have a severe case of hallux limitus.
Both doctors I worked with stated I am at stage 3 of 4, with stage 4
being you cannot bend your toe back at all. I am grateful the bone
spurs are gone, but I again I have no strength from my toes during
pushoff until I ran with inserts from Clyde.
• I am not a competitive racer. My marathon PR is 4:08. I
love to run though. I know the inserts cannot give me speed, but I ran a
5 mile tempo yesterday with the inserts with reverse Morton’s extension
in each foot and realized I was running faster more easily than I was
without them just two weeks prior… 8:45 ish per mile two weeks ago
verses 8:24 yesterday on the same route. There’s no way that increase
is from conditioning I have gained in two weeks, it is just so much
easier to run now that I have these inserts.
• I am wearing the original X-1 Blade in my left foot during
work hours and have been for the past month. I can definitely feel the
relief and experience much less pain in the my left toe joint from
walking during the day. I wear them with Rockport dress shoes that have
a wide toe box. At night, I noticed I had much less pain than after
walking all day without the inserts. I believe the insert is helping
my toe completely heal from the surgery and the turf toe injury, and
will protect me long term from excessive bending of the toe either
through normal walking, or accidently such as if I step on a rock, tree
root running on a trail, or turning too quickly. My foot is also more
pain free after running when I use the inserts.
I am sold on the version of the insert with the Morton’s extension for
running. I believe the X-1 blade is a little too rigid if you run in
them beyond 5 miles. For football, tennis or similar sport with quick
change of directions I could see it being perfect, but on a long run the
X-1 Blade made my foot and left toe more tired than usual. I don’t
think you need the extra rigidity in the first toe for normal running.
The version with the reverse Morton’s extension is not as rigid as the
X-1. I think this thinner less rigid version is more preferable for
long runs, as it still protects your toe, gives added strength support
and doesn’t tire your feet over the long term of a long run. The cut
out area for the toe is a must for hallux rigidus also.
I want to see how the Morton’s extension version works when I get to
runs of 18 miles+. I ran 13 miles last weekend and that is the
longest run I have run so far. However, after trying countless of
other inserts I could tell immediately I have hit on the right solution.
If there is anything else you need let me know. Bill H. |
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