Anyone who is serious about
fitness needs a good pair of athletic shoes.
You have been dreading the words “sensible shoes,’ since you were
sixteen but it is time to admit that feet, as well as everything else, change
with age. The foot begins to widen and
the Achilles heel as well as the ligaments on the bottoms of the feet become
more susceptible to tearing, and we won’t even talk about warts and fungus and
bunions that rear their ugly heads.
Proper shoes can mean the difference between
comfort and discomfort, and we all know that foot pain can cripple a fitness
program more thoroughly than anything else.
The foot, with its 26 bones, dozens of muscles, tendons and nerve
endings take an enormous beating throughout a lifetime, so it isn’t any wonder
that problems crop up as we reach “middle age”. I use the words middle age
loosely because we all know that we would have to live to be 120 or beyond to
be considered in the middle of anything right now, but if we do, we don’t want
our feet to hurt.
You are probably already
familiar with words like Morton’ Neuroma, plantar fasciitis, stress fractures,
heel bruises and bunions. I am personally
acquainted with two of these conditions right now and have to start each day with
stretching exercises and ice packs just to walk comfortably. Your feet might not hurt right now but I can
tell you from personal experience that it all happens very quickly and without
warning.
Feet are important if you
still want to be able to get from point A to point B with relative ease and
enjoy the journey. Be aware of common
foot problems and treat your feet kindly (a.k.a. prevention):
- Keep your weight down
- Avoid over exertion during exercise sessions
- Avoid concrete and asphalt (try jogging on grass
or along trails rather than on asphalt of cement)
- Learn good walking, jogging or running
techniques
- Wear shoe inserts (insoles or orthotics) for
support and cushioning
- Wear good shoes
Choosing the right athletic
shoe is rather mind boggling. Your
favorite sporting goods store will have walls, shelves, and racks full of shoes
for every sport imaginable. Hopefully
you can find a salesperson who is also an athlete to help you wade through the
maze. Much research, done by shoe
companies, has gone into injury prevention and impact cushioning. However, independent research has concluded
that there isn’t much difference as far as feel and performance when it comes
to different brands, so a little research and judicious shopping will be
required on your part. I have read
several newspaper articles lately and both concluded that price is not the best
indicator of quality in an athletic shoe.
If money is no object, go ahead and buy the name brand advertized by
your favorite sports star, but many of the less expensive brands or models are
perfectly adequate for your purposes.
There are tennis shoes,
basketball shoes, running shoes, walking shoes and cross-training shoes. Cross training shoes are the newest addition
to the exercise shoe family. They are
versatile and more economical than buying a different shoe for every
sport. They work well for running,
walking, racquet sports and fitness training.
Cross trainers are good for sports in general but I will be the first to
admit that I really love the shoes that I bought for running better than
anything else that I have ever put on my feet, so buy the shoe that is right
for what you want to do. In general you will find that running shoes are more
flexible, walking shoes are sturdier, court shoes have more side support and
hiking shoes grip terrain better. If you
perform the same activity more than three times a week, buy a shoe specifically
for that activity.
Athletic Shoes should fit
like a glove. Athletic shoes should
never be uncomfortable. You should be
able to find a size and a brand that meets your specifications. Follow the recommendations as to how often you
should spring for a new pair. It is
common among people who exercise to go too long before buying new shoes.
Take care of the shoes that
you have. As you know, it doesn’t take
long for hard working sweaty feet to ruin a pair of shoes. Always use dry absorbent socks and let the
shoes air out after your workout. If you
use inserts, get the kind that can be removed and washed often. Sprinkle talcum or medicated powder in the
shoe prior to wearing and keep the outside of the shoe conditioned with special
preparations for athletic shoes.
Most importantly, especially
at this stage in your lives, is to remember that the primary function of the
workout shoe is to cushion and protect your feet, as well as protecting your
ankles, knees and hip joint from injury.
Take a little extra care when choosing your athletic shoes and your body
will thank you.
Comments