Walking may seem like a straightforward activity, although not everyone has feet that move straight forward. If your feet tend to bend or roll in ways that could eventually lead to pain or injury, you might want to consider a minimal flex walking shoe. They offer the stability to keep overly- lexible feet properly aligned.
What It Is
Minimal flex in a walking shoe refers to the flexibility level of the shoe's rear and midsole. They are meant to keep your feet in a very controlled and stable environment. Walking shoes with minimal flex are sometimes called motion control or stability shoes, although the American Academy of Podiatric Sports Medicine says these terms can be misleading because they do not properly the address the biomechanical function of the shoe. The academy instead prefers to refer to minimal flex walking shoes as having pronation control that provides torsional and flexion stability. Motion control shoes are generally less flexible than stability shoes, according to Dr. Mark Green in "Podiatry Today."
Biomechanics Explained
Your foot goes through a series of motions when you walk. Your heel is the first part of your foot to hit the ground. Your foot then rolls forward, usually toward the arch to absorb some of the impact of your heel's initial strike. Your foot then rolls to its outer edge as it tenses up and propels you on the ball of your foot so you can walk forward. The inward rolling motion of the foot after your heel initially hits the ground is known as pronation. The outward rolling motion before the ball of your foot strikes the ground is known as supination.
When to Go with Minimal Flex
If your foot tends to overpronate when you walk, a minimal flex or pronation control walking shoe is for you. Your foot is overly flexible to begin with and a minimally flexible shoe helps stabilize your foot. The design of the shoe, which often includes a post in the middle of the shoe for extra reinforcement, keeps you heel stable, immobile and less likely to roll excessively inward as you step forward. The shoe's midsole also plays a part in its stability level. The midsoles usually contain high-density materials, such as dual density ethylene vinyl acetate, that run from your heel to the middle of your foot.
How to Tell
You can usually tell if you need minimal flex walking shoes by checking out the wear patterns on the bottom of shoes in which you have done a lot of walking. If you over-pronate, the inside portion of your shoe's outsole will be worn excessively around its edges. Pain is another determining factor. Aches, pains and even injuries are risks if you wear shoes not suited to your walking style, such as those too flexible for overpronators.
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