The wrong type of footwear
Many foot problems arise due to wearing ill fitting footwear. People
think formal footwear or evening footwear when they talk about bad
fitting footwear. There is a wide range of athletic footwear available
in the market. What do you do when your old shoes are worn out and you
need new ones? You go to your favorite footwear store, and pick up a
shoe that looks good and feels good. You walk about in it, up and down
the shop and if it feels comfortable, you buy it. Little do you realize
that choosing the right kind of athletic footwear is as important!
If you are a couch potato who does minimal to no exercise at all, any
pair of shoes is fine. But if you do any kind of exercise, like gyming,
jogging, walking etc, you need to find the right footwear that will
support that kind of activity. If you are into more athletic activities
like basketball or football, even if it is in the park with your
colleagues or friends, it pays to buy the right kind of shoes.
Tips to buying good athletic shoes
Every kind of exercise uses different parts of your feet. You know
that different muscles are used for different sports. You can feel the
tension in those muscles when performing that activity. Likewise,
different spots of your feet get stressed when participating in
different kinds of sports. The shoes that you wear should support the
area of stress, depending on the activity that you are performing.
Test your foot
The first step to choosing the right shoes is to understand your
feet. The best way to do that is to look at your last pair of worn out
shoes. Check and see which parts of the shoes are worn out. Depending on
your activity and the shape of your foot and your gait, the shoe will
be more worn out in certain areas. Now you know which part of your feet
needs more cushioning and support.
Read up on shoes
There is a lot of material online about the different kinds of shoes
available. This is not merely marketing. Most shoes these days are
tested thoroughly, and used by sportspeople, before being vetted as good
for that particular activity.
Talk to your podiatrist
If you have any kind of foot problem it is a good idea to talk to
your podiatrist and get their inputs. They could also give you more
information on splints and guards to protect your feet.
Ask the salespeople
The salesperson knows the products inside out. If you explain to them
the kind of activity that you indulge in, they will be able to help you
find a shoe that is designed for that activity.
Don’t multi task shoes
Many people use the same shoes for running, basketball, skipping etc.
If you regularly do a number of different sports at the same time, you
should have shoes that complement that sport. Otherwise by using the
wrong shoe for the wrong sport, you could end up injuring yourself. For
example, walking shoes are stiff, running shoes are flexible. If you
alternate regularly between both these exercises, you should have
different shoes for each.
Be aware of foot change
Due to sports or age and many other reasons, the shape of your feet
and your stress points could change. So you should check your old shoes
for new worn out spots, and see a podiatrist and get advice before
getting new shoes.
Remember, shoes can make or break your foot!
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