After spending 20 years helping people with shoes, I am constantly reminded how important it is to be in a pair that fits properly. There are so many different types of bodies and each is perfect in its own way unless we put on the wrong pair of shoes. The resulting discomfort can actually be the difference between becoming active or remaining sedentary. It is one of the barriers that confronts us when we want to start an exercise program.
First and foremost, you have to understand how your foot works and what end of the spectrum you are on. At one end is a very flexible foot, great for shock absorption, but not very stable. At the other end of the spectrum is a hyper-rigid foot, which is great for stability but not so good for shock absorption.
Second, you need to understand how your feet are aligned. Your feet can turn out, point straight ahead or turn in.
Third, how are your knees aligned? Do they bow out, stand neutral, or knock.
Fourth, you need to know if you have one shorter leg. A short leg is found in 80% of the population. This can be the result of multiple reasons including short bone length or scoliosis.
All of these factors affect comfort and fit which is why it is so difficult to get the correct pair of shoes. When you start walking or running on a regular basis, this is especially true. The more you move, the more important your needs are for properly fitted footwear and insoles.
Running and walking shoe manufacturers have designed shoes to fit into three main categories, including two extreme foot types and one middle-ground type. They are neutral cushioning, stability control and motion control.
In addition, running and walking shoes rarely over-support the arch. If your foot needs more support, it is often necessary to add a custom or extra insole/orthodic to complete the support or cushioning for the shoe.
In a future article, I will go into more detail about shoe types and how they match up with foot and body types. For now, it is important to realize that if you are committing to an active lifestyle, one of the pillars of success is getting professionally fitted shoes before you begin.