The Benefits of Wearing The Correct Sport Shoe

Reduce the Risk of Injury With The Correct Shoe

There are significant differences between shoes based on factors such foot type and gait, also the different disciplines in sport, (e.g., road running, trail running, track).

The amount of cushioning, and other design elements such as the material and weight plays a significant role when choosing a shoe. It's important to find a pair of shoes that are best suited to your specific needs and preferences to ensure comfort and assist in preventing injuries.

These details can be a bit confusing if you are just starting out.

Word of wisdom: Never buy the same shoe as your friend just because you like the flashy colors or its popularity.

The Surface You Run on Plays a Big Role In The Type of Shoe You Should Wear

• Road Running: This is the most popular shoe type. These are mainly used for the tar surfaces. Most has cushioning as majority of runners tend to be heelstrikers, i.e landing heel first
• Trail Running: These are for off-road running, mainly mountain and gravel, muddy surfaces. These has a more rugged outer-sole as it gives more grip on the uneven surfaces of the trails and mountain roads.
• Track: These are always lightweight, fitted with spikes for grip and speed, also with lower profile and minimal cushioning.

Consider having a gait analysis done: Most Sport Shoe stores does this on request, depending whether they have the equipment.

Your Pronation Type: Your gait usually shows a pattern of either a 'neutral pronation', 'over-pronation' or 'under-pronation' (supination), therefore the best action to take is to visit a Sport Shoe store and get advice from a Shoe Specialist.

• Neutral pronation: Type of shoe - Neutral
• This is when your foot comes into contact with the ground, heel strike first then rolling forward to the forefoot, spreading the weight evenly across the foot. It's the most biomechanically sound gait, causing the least amount of stress on joints and muscles.
• Under-pronation (Supination): Type of shoe - Stability
• This occurs when your weight rolls onto the outer edges of your foot. Under pronation can cause a lot of stress on the foot and can lead to injuries such as shin splints, ankle strains, or fractures.
• Over-pronation: Type of shoe - Stability / Motion Control
• This is when your weight rolls onto the inner edges of your foot. Over pronation could cause injuries like bunions, heel pain, or shin splints.

I have ended up having to take time off to recover from injuries after running an Ultra race in the incorrect shoe as I thought the half price sale was a bargain. However this was a shoe for an underpronator and I have a neutral foot. This shoe prevented my feet from landing correctly, causing me to have hip, knee and ITB injuries! I ended up spending more than I bargained for .. pun intended

Therefore it's worth spending time to find the correct shoe for your activity and gait. This is a good way to avoid overspending on shoes which does not suit your feet.