How to Choose Running Shoes
An advertisement for a leading shoe making company showed Kim Kardashian suggesting that their shoes will help her tone a certain part of her body. Many of us might have got inspired by it too. The shoe making giants are constantly innovating to provide maximum customer satisfaction. Just going and buying the latest shoes in town may not be the best idea for you. There are also many stylish orthopedic shoes to choose from. You should find a pair that is ideal for you.
So how does one choose a pair of running shoes? Well, the answer lies in understanding your pronation. Novice runners do not pay attention to this and end up buying shoes which are not suitable for them. I have also observed that people go in for cheaper shoes, not realizing the dire consequences of using low quality shoes, and end up having a knee or a foot problem.
How to Choose Running Shoes for Your Feet
Understanding the biomechanics of the feet will help you choose an appropriate pair of running shoes.
- Understanding the Foot: If you do not know your foot size, I advise you to go to a footwear specialty shop and check your foot size. If the size of both your feet vary, then your shoe size must correspond to the size of your larger foot. The shoe should be snug. You should also know your arc shape. This will help you identify your pronation quickly. Wet your feet and stand on the bathmat. Observe your footprints. If your footprints indicate your entire foot, then you over-pronate. If your imprints show a very thin band between the ball of your foot and your heel, then you under-pronate. Normal pronation lies between, over-pronation and under-pronation.
- Understanding Pronation: Pronation is the natural inward roll of the foot after a heel-strike. This roll helps in distributing the pressure of impact. Pronation causes the shock-absorption. Thus, it relieves the pressure off the joints and knees. In normal pronation, after the heel strikes the ground, the foot moves inward around 15 degrees. In over-pronation, the inward movement of the foot is more than 15 degrees, thus making it difficult for the foot and the ankle to balance the body. Whereas, in under-pronation, the movement is less than 15 degrees, and a smaller portion of the lateral side of the foot bears the impact. Depending on your pronation, I will be suggesting you the appropriate running shoes for you.
- Motion-control Shoes: If you have flat feet and you over-pronate, then these shoes will be the best for you. This helps your ankle and foot balance your body, thereby providing motion control.
- Stability Shoes: If you have a normal pronation, then these shoes will be appropriate for you. The maximum shock-absorption takes place in the central part of these shoes. Thus, they help in providing you better stability.
- Highly Cushioned Shoes: The high cushioning helps in distributing the pressure of the impact from the lateral portion of the foot. These shoes are suitable for those who under-pronate.
- Time to Buy: When you buy your shoes also plays a major role in the fitting of your shoes. You should preferably shop for shoes in the late afternoon. Your feet are the largest then. The feet have a tendency to expand while running. So buying shoes proportional to the largest size of your feet is always advised.
- Curve of the Shoes: If you have flat feet, then shoes with a straight shape is appropriate for you. Shoes with a curved shape will be the best for those who under-pronate. Semi-curved shape shoes will be suitable of those for those who have normal pronation.
- Testing your Shoes: Once you have chosen your pair of shoes, you should test them. Walk and jump around in them. Make sure that you are comfortable in them. If you don't feel comfortable, then ask for another pair.
