Experiencing irritation of the achilles tendon by the rubbing of a high and stiff heel tab is an unfortunate and easily preventable injury.
I’m not talking about a simple blister here, but actual irritation of the tendon.
Achilles tendonitis can hopefully become a thing of the past with the below easy fix, but be warned it may change the sizing of the shoe.
I’ve experienced similar irritation from the elastic band that was used on the original Vibram Fivefinger, that went over the top of the foot. The band pressing down on the tendons simply created a pressure point for irritation, extensor tendonitis in that case.
As for the remedy, 5 time world record holder Gordon Pirie recommends:
The quickest remedy to this problem is to take a knife to the curved piece of shoe material and cut it off, so that the top of the shoeheel is level with the rest of the upper, and below the level of the soft tissue of the Achilles tendon. The top of the shoe heel must not be higher than the bony heel. Runners who come to me limping with very sore Achilles tendons are able to run away with theirpain relieved after this surgery is performed on the shoe (with the shoe removed, of course). This “operation” will make the shoe about half a size larger than it was originally, so bear this in mind when purchasing shoes.