Picking the Right Athletic Shoe

The best athletic shoe for your foot might not always be the prettiest. Function should trump fashion in the selection of any athletic shoe. All feet are different and every shoe is different. Every shoe has different features that cause it to conform to a specific shaped foot. Selecting the right athletic shoe is imperative in maintaining healthy and strong bones and joints. The wrong running shoe can without a doubt contribute to pain in the back, hips, knees and feet while also being really tough on your bones and joints.

Choosing athletic shoes is very much a personal decision; whichever shoe feels the most comfortable and snug (in a good way) on your foot is most likely the best fit for you. You should try moving your foot forward and backward as well as side to side inside the shoe to ensure a snug, yet comfy feel. The shoe should be snug as to not allow your foot to move around much while running or walking. The arch of your foot should also be well-supported. If possible, try to go to an athletic shoe specific store to find the right athletic shoe by getting properly fitted and evaluated. Shop for shoes at the end of the day or after a workout when your feet are generally at their largest. Wear the type of socks you usually wear during exercise, and if you use orthotic devices for postural support, make sure you wear them when trying on shoes. Don’t only try on the shoe, try walking or jogging around the store to ensure a good fit.

Orthotics are custom shoe inserts that help correct foot abnormalities. An orthotic makes up for any compensation that your foot may have been making due to an un-fitted shoe. Orthotics change the angle at which your foot hits the ground, helping you avoid injuries like shin splints or plantar fasciitis.





The right fit for your foot type:

For the normal foot: generally lands on the outside of the heel and rolls inward to absorb shock. The best shoe for a normal foot is a stable shoe with just a slightly curved shape.

For the flat foot: very low arch, a wet footprint leaves a print of the entire sole of the foot. It usually indicates an overpronated foot—one that strikes on the outside of the heel and rolls excessively inward (pronates). Over time, this can cause overuse injuries. The best shoe for a flat-footed person would be motion-control shoes that are very snug on the foot and pretty resistant to bending. Very soft, cushioned shoes which lack much stability are NOT good for this type of foot.

For the high-arched foot: would leave a wet footprint of a very small band as compared with a flat-footed person. A high-arched foot does not pronate much. A curved, highly arched foot is generally supinated or underpronated. Because the foot doesn’t pronate enough, usually it’s not an effective shock absorber.The best choice in athletic shoe for a person with a high-arched foot would be a more cushioned shoe, one that allows for more foot mobility.

Make sure the shoe fits correctly. Choose shoes for their fit, not by the size you’ve worn in the past. The shoe should fit with an index finger’s width between the end of the shoe and the longest toe. The toe box should have adequate room and not feel tight. This is especially important if you have foot issues like bunions or Mortons Neuroma. The heel of your foot should fit snugly against the back of the shoe without sliding up or down as you walk or run. If possible, keep the shoe on for 10 minutes to make sure it remains comfortable.




Helpful hint: How long do athletic shoes last?—between 300 and 500 miles, or before shoes show very reasonable signs of wear. When the cushioning in shoes wears down, the shock absorption is lost which can ultimately lead to recurring injuries such as shin splints.