Tips On Athletic Shoe Selection

Athletic Shoes : Characteristics
The function of a running shoe is to protect the foot from the stresses of running, while permitting athlete to achieve his maximum potential. While in some parts of the world athletes run and participate in sports barefooted, most of us require and benefit from the use of sport specific shoes. The forces and motions that occur in different sports vary greatly. Because of these differences it is important that active participation in varied sports will require varied shoes. A simple example of why this is so can be demonstrated by a brief contrast of the sports of running and tennis. Tennis and other raquet sports require much side-to-side motion and the shoe must provide lateral stability. The shoes appropriate for raquet sports usually do not have any heel elevation. If the shoe is unstable when the athlete is moving to one side to return a ball, the likelihood is great that they may suffer an ankle sprain. Recreational running on the other hand, usually occurs in a straight line. Lateral stability is not as important. These shoes usually have slight heel elevation which will reduce stress on the achilles tendon, but slightly reduce the lateral stability of the ankle. Running shoes also have a larger toe box, more shock absorption, and better pronation control than tennis shoes. Interestingly enough, many of the so-called walking shoes have characteristics that are more similar to tennis shoes than to running shoes. Walking and running both occur in a straight line and the similar requirements of these activities suggest that one would be better off using running shoes for walking, rather than a shoe that resembles a tennis shoe. Unless, of course, you walk down the street practicing your backhand returns.

Long distance runners usually contact the ground on their heels. Sprinters have forefoot contact. Middle distance runners vary and may have forefoot, midfoot or heel contact.

Flaws To Avoid In "Walking Shoes"

Over the past few years walking shoes from many companies have come to resemble running shoes more then tennis shoes. This bodes well for those who select "walking shoes" for walking rather then using running shoes for walking. New Balance and Saucony among others have some very well designed walking shoes. With that said, yes, you may still use running shoes for walking.

Some Sport Walking Shoes, however, are not well designed. The usually observed flaws are:

• Lack of forefoot cushioning in comparison with running shoes
• Flexibility in incorrect location - usually too proximal
• Lack of room in forefoot
• Inadequate support in rearfoot
• Lack of heel lift
• Skimping on quality of materials

by Stephen M. Pribut, DPM