Find the best shoes for your workout

The following has been excerpted from Healthy Feet: The Foot Doctor's Complete Guide for Men and Women, by Glenn Copeland, DPM, with Stan Solomon. Available in bookstores August 2004. Published by Key Porter Books.

Athletic footwear
Athletic-footwear companies are playing a major role in lower limb injury prevention, not necessarily for altruistic reasons, but because the market is so competitive these days they have to stay a step ahead of the field. The industry is spending millions of dollars each year to produce the perfect shoes to give different athletes ultimate performance. Just as automobile racers rely on certain tires for a competitive edge, so athletes rely on footwear to give them an advantage over the competition. Certain athletic events require different types of shoes because stresses and ground surfaces may differ. And, since every athlete has a different foot, a single shoe last may suit one but not another. The end result is that, except for children who are not playing a specific sport, there is no longer any such thing as the all-purpose sneaker or running shoe.

All this competitiveness and research has led to a much better product for the athlete, but usually at a higher price per pair of shoes. However, let me assure you that when it comes to athletic shoes, you do get what you pay for, almost all the time. The major problem for the athletic consumer today is how to choose the proper pair of shoes from among the proliferation of models and manufacturers.

Because athletic shoes today are sports-specific, you would be well advised to find a store that carries a wide variety of shoes for all sorts of activities and that employs sales personnel who are familiar with the merchandise and the needs of specific athletes. If you have a definite biomechanical problem in your lower limbs, you would be wise to consult first with a podiatrist who is an expert in sports medicine. Then you will know better exactly what type of shoe to look for. You must also take into consideration the type of surface on which you will be exercising. Different terrains, court surfaces, or playing fields will call for different types of shoes. Avoid buying the best-looking or highest-priced athletic shoe without taking the above into consideration. If you have any doubts at all, keep shopping until you find a knowledgeable salesperson. Remember, although a certain shoe may feel okay when you try it on in the store, it may be totally inadequate for your needs when you are exercising.

The three major factors to consider when purchasing athletic shoes are, as for non-athletic shoes, cushioning (shock absorption), stability, and flexibility. Recent developments in designing and manufacturing these shoes have resulted in footwear that is far superior to that of 20 years ago, and their increased stability, flexibility, and shock absorption provide more comfort than any other type of shoe made today. That is why it is not unusual to see business executives, both male and female, wearing running shoes to work, switching to regular shoes only when they reach their offices. Let's take a closer look at a typical modern running shoe to find out exactly why it helps protect the feet and legs from injury.

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