by: Dr. Jaicy Harless
“Good shoes take you good places.” ― Seo Min Hyun
What shoes you should pick for running shoes? Considering that there are dozens of different colors, brands, and designs. Nevertheless, finding the best-fitting shoes among those choices isn’t easy.
Before buying running shoes you must consider these factors first:
- Where you’re planning to run.
- Decide if you want if your foot needs more
- or less cushioning underfoot
- Understand whether you need a specific type of support for your foot type
Make sure your shoes fit you correctly.
1. Where you’re planning to run
- Road Running shoes are designed for boardwalks and occasionally charge onto packed surfaces with some irregularities.
- Trail Running shoes are designed for off-road tracks with rocks, mud, roots, or other obstacle
- Cross-training shoes are designed for gym, cross-training, or any balance activity.
2. Decide if you want if you need more or less cushioning underfoot
- Maximum cushion
- Moderate cushion
- Minimal cushion
- Barefoot shoes
What are zero drop shoes?
The heel drop of a shoe represents the difference in cushioning between the heel and toe of the shoe. The drop has a great effect on how your foot strikes the ground.
Traditional running shoes usually have a heel drop of about 10mm and up, That offers a lot of cushion in the heel and promotes landing first on the heel as the foot moves through motion. On the other hand, a zero-drop shoe means there’s an equal amount of cushioning under the heels and toes. The lower the drop, the more a shoe could cause a midfoot strike. This could lead to having a lower impact stride than a heel strike. The lower the drop, the more the Achilles tendon will have to work.
3. Understand whether you need a specific type of support for your gait
Pronation is the natural way your foot rolls inward when it strikes the ground and then propels forward.
There are three categories of running shoe support:
- Neutral shoes: They can work for mild pronators but are best for neutral runners or people who supinate (tend to roll outward).
- Stability shoes: Good for runners who exhibit mild to moderate overpronation.
- Motion control shoes: Best for runners who exhibit moderate to severe overpronation.
4. Make sure your shoes are fit for you
Any Questions or still having difficulty/pain, Please call Elite Muscle Recovery 423-664-8452 or click the link below. We would love to help you get back to the activities you were born to do!