If you have low arches or flat feet, you'll need to invest a little extra care in shopping for your fitness shoes. Finding shoes that fit your feet properly can help reduce your risk for injuries, calluses and blisters, and comfortable walking shoes will be more likely to motivate you to stick with your workout regimen.
Identification
If you suspect you have flat feet but aren't sure, there's a simple way to find out. Spread a clean piece of cardboard in front of you, then dip your feet in water and walk across the cardboard using your normal gait. If your footprints show most of your foot, you're probably flat-footed, explains MayoClinic.com.
Supportive Shoes
If you have flat feet, you'll need shoes with plenty of support, says Stephen Pribut, podiatrist and president of the American Academy of Podiatric Sports Medicine, in "Fitness" magazine. Check any pair you're considering by pressing its toe against the floor and pointing its heel toward the ceiling. Press firmly on the heel, keeping the toe on the floor. If the shoe bends under your added pressure, it's probably not supportive enough for your low arches, says Pribut.
Shoes With Motion Control
Shoes with motion control help keep your feet from sliding around while you work out by locking them into place. If you have flat feet, motion control technology can help keep your feet from absorbing shock in the wrong places. Most motion control shoes have a built-in arch support system, so try on several pairs to find one with cushioning that feels comfortable for your foot. Start shopping with cross-trainers, which have good side-to-side support, and stay away from most running shoes, which are designed to propel your foot forward instead of holding it in place.
Shoes for Overpronators
Overpronators wear out the inner soles of their shoes before the outer soles because they tend to roll their ankles and put pressure on the inside part of their foot when they walk. People who overpronate usually do so because they have low arches, so shoes designed for overpronators are usually a good bet for people with flat feet, too, explains RunningShoesGuru.com.
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