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It is important to think of a good pair of running shoes as one of the most important pieces of equipment for your sport, whether it is running, jogging or triathlon.
As we have mentioned before, people who have normal pronation may be best served with a shoe that provides stability, while those who tend over-pronate, or have a “flat foot” find the best results with a motion control shoe.
Motion control shoes are designed to slow down or limit the extreme inward rolling of the foot or ankle that may be indicative of the over-pronator. Since they tend to be heavier shoes, they will not help out your speed, but will allow the “flat-footed” athlete to have better endurance and avoid injury that could be caused by a difficult running style.
These types of shoes have features such as the medial post or a firmer section under the inner edge of your foot.
They are also good shoes for athletes who suffer from plantar fasciitis. Athletes who suffer from this type of injury or tend to over-pronate can be helped by a regimented program designed by SD PERSONAL TRAINER.
We have all been guilty of it.
Standing in front of row after row of athletic shoes, looking for the right shoe. Finally, we find the right one. But, why did you pick it? Because it looked cool. That could be a big mistake.
Most of us want to look good. We have a certain style that we like and want everything, including our running or cross training shoes, to match that style. However, basing your choice of athletic shoe on “how it looks” could lead you to a very unpleasant exercise experience or, worse yet, injury.
Running shoes can be divided into three different categories: Cushioning shoes, motion control shoes and stability shoes.
As stability shoe is intended for runners that have medium, or normal, arch and whose stride tends to land on the outside of their heel and roll inward. As we mentioned in the previous article, this is called normal pronation. There are many different degrees of stability shoes. The degree of stability it provides is determined by the amount of support it give and where that support is located in the shoe.
The semi-curved construction of the shoe gives extra support and is located in the inside arch to heel area. Materials such as phylon, EVA, urethane and carbon are used in this type of shoe to provide support functions. The types of support systems generally used can be known as footbridges, roll bars, stability webs and tortion systems.
Stay tuned to SD PERSONAL TRAINER to find out more about other types of shoes for different types of feet that may need extra cushioning or motion control.
You wouldn’t buy a nice looking house without considering how you like the neighborhood and you probably wouldn’t buy a sports car if you live on a dirt road.
Along the same lines, you shouldn’t buy a running shoe just because it’s pretty. Luckily, there are so many styles out there that you are likely to be able to easily find something that suits your needs.
However, the first thing to consider is your foot.
People obviously come in all shapes and sizes. So do feet. It goes beyond mere shoe size though. It is very important to know what kind of arch you have and what kind of shoe is best for your foot type. Consulting with an expert at a serious athletic shoe store can help. If you want to go out shopping on your own, consider the following.
Neutral Arched Feet
A foot with a “neutral arch” is neither too high, nor too flat. This means that your footprint should have a flare in the mid-foot with a relatively broad band connecting to the heal. The neutral foot lands on the outside of the heel and rolls inward slightly, absorbing shock. This type of foot is very efficient and can fit most types of shoes.
Mid Arched Foot
In layman’s terms, this foot is “flat.” Its footprint looks like the entire sole of the foot and runners with this type of foot tend to strike on the outside of the heel and roll inward. This is called “overpronating.” Runners with a mid-arched foot are prone to injuries in the feet and lower legs. If you have a mid-arch, a shoe with motion control or high stability, along with firm soles can reduce the degree of pronation. These runners should not use cushioned shoes.
High Arched Feet
The high-arched foot leaves a very narrow or no band between the forefoot and the heel in its footprint. These runners tend to underpronate, or supinate, thereby not effectively absorbing shock. Cushioned shoes are recommended for this type of foot and one should not use shoes that reduce mobility.
The foot and all parts of the body are a complex machine that works in symphony together. Professional physical training, such as that of SD PERSONAL TRAINER, can help new or experienced athletes get to know the harmony necessary for their body to perform properly.
The mechanics of every body is different and the way we run can vary depending on our body type and the shape of our foot. One of the main factors in determining running form is how the foot rolls from heel to toe in our stride. This movement is known as “pronation.”
Overpronation: This refers to a stride with impact mostly on the inside of the foot.
Underpronation: This occurs when the impact is on the outside of the foot.
Neutral Pronation: This is when the impact is even between both the inside and the outside of the foot.
You can tell which type of stride you may have by taking a look at a pair of your old shoes. If you have more wear on the outside of the shoe, you probably underpronate. If you have more ware on the inside of the shoe, you may overpronate. If the wear is relatively uniform, then you have neutral pronation.
You can also determine your pronation by looking at your arch. People with a low arch overpronate, while a high arch causes underpronation.
There may not be much you can do to change the shape of your foot, but you can find the right shoe to help compensate for any issue you may have. At SD PERSONAL TRAINER, we encourage our participants to have the proper equipment to enhance their workout and meet their fitness goals faster.
