Best Running Shoes
Most of the time, athletic shoes can be categorized two ways: neutral sneakers and stability sneakers. Best Running Shoes for Stability sneakers most often contain a midsole and heel that is cushioned. This helps to control foot motion and prevent overpronation, the tendency to roll the foot inward too much. This decreases disruption of weight distribution, affecting shock absorption.
While the studies show that stability shoes can increase stresses on the knee more so than a flat shoe, they can still be a good choice in some cases. “Stability shoes take weight off the ball of the foot, which is important for people with hip, knee, foot or ankle OA, RA, toe arthritis, or pain in the footpad,” says Dr. Teimouri.
The structure of your foot also matters, as Dr. T says, “Stability shoes provide good cushioning and motion control for people who overpronate.”
Running Shoes for Pronated Feet
Not sure if you have normal pronation or not? Dr. T has advised asking the staff member of a store that specializes in athletic footwear. “Bring in an old pair of running shoes. They can determine your pronation by looking for the distinctive wear patterns caused by abnormal pronation,” she says. Dr. Teimouri notes that a few stores even have digital foot scanners, a high-tech machine that can discover your exact biomechanical problems.
Moving on, a neutral shoe, defined by Dr. Tina, is simply a shoe that doesn’t account for over or under pronation of the feet. “They offer good shock absorption and cushioning that people with arthritis can benefit from,” says Dr. Teimouri, adding that “their neutral design typically allows them to easily accommodate an insert or custom-molded orthotic, often prescribed for patients with arthritis.”
Why Picking The Right Shoe For Running Is Important?
Picking the best shoes is an essential part of your running journey as they can have a direct impact on your performance, health and safety. But if these aren’t enough reasons to convince you, check out some more reasons on why it’s important to pick the right shoes:
- Performance
The right shoes can always improve your running performance by providing the right level of support and cushioning. Such qualities can improve your speed, endurance and overall efficiency, which is why the right running shoes pay an important role in your performance.
- Injury Prevention And Safety
There are numerous foot problems, from plantar fasciitis to heel spurs, each of them can be annoying and are mostly caused by wrong shoes. It’s because each shoe provides a different type of support and cushioning, and if you pick the wrong ones, you may need to deal with such problems. That’s why make sure you always pick shoes that are most comfortable to you.
- Durability
Durability is one of the most important factor when it comes to choosing the right shoe. If your shoes aren’t durable enough then they may not last really long and can even lead you to injuries. All this will cost you a lot money, so rather than choosing weak shoes again and again, make sure to pick durable ones and make a cost effective investment!
- Comfort
Everyone deserves comfortable shoes, because if you don’t have then you may not enjoy your running and walking at all. You may also need to deal with problems like blisters, and uncomfortable walks which can be annoying. If your shoes are too small then your feed won’t get to breath properly and there won’t be enough space for your toes either. so it’s always a good idea to pick shoes that provide you great amount of comfort.
Best Walking Shoes
Dr. Tina claims that neutral sneakers are ideal “for walkers and runners with normal pronation and no biomechanical problems. If you over- or underpronate or have issues caused by injury or age, you’re better off with a shoe with attributes that address your problems.”
Dr. Tina advises that athletic shoe styles vary year to year. New Balance, Asics, and Avia, along with others are able to offer stability and neutral shoes that come in a wide array of widths, sizes, and features. She also says to try on as many pairs at a shoe store as it takes to find the pair that feels best for your needs.