Choosing the right shoes for exercise

Tag : shoes jordan

Published: June 30, 2008 11:10 pm
Choosing the right shoes for exercise By Judy Rupp, commentary

In the corner of the family room is a large box filled withathletic shoes: Mom’s tennis shoes and Dad’s runningshoes.

There was a time midway through the last century when one pair ofgeneric “tennis shoes” or “sneakers” foreach athlete in the family (typically one or none) might havesufficed. Not so today, and for good reasons.

Every sport or activity has its own moves, requirements andchallenges. The surface — hard wood, clay, grass, concrete orasphalt — also presents special needs.

At least one shoe manufacturer includes with each purchase awarning this particular shoe is safe for use only in the intendedsport — running. Running requires you to put one foot infront of the other repeated times with essentially the same gait.Other sports involve sudden stops and starts, lateral moves, cutsand turns. Even the highest quality running shoe would not hold upwell or protect the feet under these conditions. It’simportant to choose your shoes accordingly.

Tennis: A good tennis shoe has excellent traction plus durabilityto withstand quick stops, short sprints and sharp cuts and turns.The most durable sole is carbon rubber, and it also provides goodtraction on hard surfaces. On the other hand, a shoe with a fullcarbon rubber sole may not be flexible enough for a quick-footedplayer.

Basketball: From 1920 until the mid 1960s, Chuck Taylor ConverseAll-Stars were state-of-the-art basketball shoes. With foam rubbercushioning and canvas high tops, they were more than sufficientduring the era of the two-handed set shot and the take-your-timeoffense.

“Chucks” have now become a counter-culture statement,while the increasingly high-tech shoes of the post-Michael Jordanera have become fashionable in their own right. But when shoppingfor shoes, it’s important to consider your own personal needsrather than the image you want to project.

Walking: The mechanics of walking are distinct from those ofrunning, and shoes now are being engineered to meet the uniqueneeds of exercise walking.

Whereas some runners require a relatively thick, rigid sole forstability and shock absorption, a walker needs a shoe that isflexible, particularly at the ball of the foot. Without flexibilityin the shoe, walking tends to cause added stress to the ankle andshin muscles, creating added fatigue and setting the stage forinjury.

The flared heel and outsole that is common with some running shoesalso is likely to be a hindrance with walking. In fact, mostrunning shoes have an elevated heel; so using them for walking islike walking uphill with every step.

Walking shoes require a snug heel cup and a roomy toe box withplenty of room to spread your toes when you stride.

Running is relatively high impact, and a good running shoe hasadequate shock absorption for both the front and rear of the foot.Cushioning that’s too soft defeats the purpose, allowing thefoot to move too freely and putting additional stress on joints allthe way up the leg.

All athletes, and particularly runners, should be aware of theirfoot type — pronated, supinated or neutral.

Runners who pronate (rolling their feet inward) and heavy runnersneed what are known as motion control shoes. They generally areinflexible with denser material on the inside to help correct forpronation.

Runners who supinate and those with high arches need moreflexibility and cushioned shoes with softer midsoles.

The neutral foot, which has no motion control issues, needs astability shoe. It’s more flexible than a motion control shoebut provides greater support and durability than the cushionedshoe.

Whatever your sport, a specialty store, with sales staff who cantalk to you about your needs, is the place to shop. Look-alikeshoes sold at department chains usually are made for casual wearand do not have the materials and design needed for seriousathletic use. Once you know a model number and size of a shoe thatworks for you, you may be able to find discounts online.

Buying a large box full of athletic shoes requires spending a largebox full of money. The cost is small compared to what you mightspend at a sports medicine clinic or podiatrist’s office totreat an injury.



Rupp is information and assistance case manager with the NorthernOklahoma Development Authority Area Agency on Aging.