Find the best shoes for your workout

Other footwear factors
There are a few other factors to consider when purchasing a running shoe, particularly the breathability of the shoe, and especially in the upper, forefoot part. You do not want too much moisture to be trapped inside your shoe, as fungi and blisters thrive in hot, moist areas. You will also want to know what sort of traction the outer sole provides. You do not want to be slipping and sliding when you are running.

Is the shoe you are choosing light in weight, but still able to provide the stability you need? Generally speaking, the lighter the shoe, the less stability it has to offer. Is there cushioning around the ankle that includes an Achilles pad, to prevent irritation to this area and consequent skin eruption? Is the tongue of the shoe padded to prevent the laces from pressing on the top of the foot? Finally, is there a removable inner sole in case you must add prescribed orthotics?

Racquet sports and aerobics shoes
Many of the remarks I have made above refer specifically to running shoes, which are designed to support a foot that is constantly moving forward. They are not designed for repeated bouncing up and down on one's toes or for quick lateral movements. Sports activities that require a lot of lateral movements necessitate a shoe that provides more lateral support for the foot. And many activities, such as aerobics exercises, place additional stresses on the forefoot, so they require shoes with additional shock absorptive qualities in the front.

Racquet sports involve repeated, quick, stop-and-go movements in all directions. Running shoes do not provide for such movements, particularly because of the added cushioning in their heels and a lack of lateral stability in the forefoot. Raised heels make the back part of the foot less stable, and quick lateral movements can result in sprained ankles. So if you wish to minimize the risk of a lower limb injury while playing racquet sports, buy shoes specifically designed for such activities. The court is no place for a running shoe. And shoes for racquet sports are now becoming surface-specific, with tennis shoes for clay surfaces, as well as those for “tartan” or asphalt courts.

Many problems make foot and leg injuries constant companions of aerobics exercisers. The exercises are usually done on a fairly hard surface. Exercisers may spend a lot of time on their toes and, depending on the instructor's routines, moving laterally. Lateral movement is particularly accentuated when aerobics are combined with dancing, as in dancercise. So an aerobics exerciser must have a shoe that combines added forefoot cushioning with flexibility and stability.

Manufacturers of aerobics shoes are continuing their research to develop the perfect product, and for people who are not prone to leg and foot problems and who exercise on surfaces that have some resilience, the modern aerobic shoe is fine. But if you are constantly plagued by problems such as shin splints or are forced to exercise on hard, unyielding surfaces, I recommend that you stick to good running shoes, because you require cushioning that even the best aerobic shoe cannot yet offer. Definitely avoid wearing a racquet-sports shoe for aerobics, because they are made for lateral mobility and fail to provide adequate flexibility and the shock absorption required for aerobic exercising.

If you do a lot of step aerobics, you require shoes that grip better and have more flexibility in the front part of the foot. Because of the pull on the Achilles tendon, stair-climbers need exercise shoes that have higher heels, particularly if they have a history of Achilles problems due to a shortened tendon.

Hiking is also a popular aerobic pastime these days. Stability is very important for hikers because they are constantly walking or climbing on uneven surfaces. High-top hiking shoes provide much of the additional stability they require.

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