The shoots are your azaleas renewing themselves. If you keep cutting them off you will be left with aging shrubs full of old wood. Allow some of the shoots to grow and when they are bigger you can prune out some of the old wood. Many azaleas are spreading shrubs. They are not necessarily required to be up on bare legs.

read up on the process of rejuvenation pruning ..... and try to understand how these shoots are the future of the plant ...

your mulch looks a bit heavy at the trunks.. that might be part of the problem with excessive sprouting ... as would landscape fabric.. if there is any under there ....

when ma nature is outwitting you.. wonder to yourself ... perhaps there is a reason i cant beat her ... and then find out how to use it to your advantage .... it is usually easier to join her.. than try to beat her ...... trust me on that ....

ken

https://duckduckgo.com/?q=rejuvenation+pruning+of+azalea&t=ffcm&ia=videos

Rhododendrons and azaleas need cool root runs, foliage going all the way to near the ground helps shade the soil underneath them. And keeps these shrubs from looking "leggy".