When beginning a particular sport or type of exercise, selecting a proper shoe is important to minimize injury and maximize performance. Especially for fashion-conscious women, it’s easy to get caught up in how a shoe looks rather than how it fits. When it comes to working out, though, athletes should eschew style for function.
Knowing Your Feet
The most important factor to consider when choosing any type of athletic shoe is to get a proper fit. “All sorts of things -- your biomechanics, your weight, the surfaces you run on and, obviously, the shape of your feet -- mean that one person's ideal shoe can be terrible for another person.” according to Runner’s World. To properly find a shoe that fits correctly, in addition to getting the right size, consider if you have a normal, flat or high arch, and the width of your foot. Additionally, consider going to a biomechanics expert or experienced shoe retailer to be properly fitted, according to Runner’s World.
Walking/Running
Just as a soccer player would wear cleats, women who are walking or running as their main form of exercise should be wearing a shoe that is designed specifically for their sport. However, with all the different styles and options available for runners and walkers today, it can be a dizzying process to select the right shoe. According to an article by Dr.Stephen M. Pribut for the American Academy of Podiatric Sports Medicine, “One of the best means of finding out information about running shoes is to locate a good running shoe store, that maintains an excellent reputation among your local running community. They can help you not only with fit but also review desired shoe characteristics with you.”
Toning Shoes
A new type of athletic shoe marketed toward women is the “toning” shoe, and is available under such names as Reebok Easy Tone, Sketchers Shape-Ups and FitFlops. These shoes are engineered to create a sense of instability, forcing wearers to engage their hamstrings, calves and gluteal muscles when they walk. Due to the instability created, they are not recommended to be worn for any other activity except walking.
While these shoes are gaining in popularity, their effectiveness has come into question, according to a 2009 "New York Times" article. The claim that Reebok Easy Tones actually tone your muscles is only supported by one study involving five people. However, the Times article points out that while the shoes may not actually tone and firm backsides as they claim, women who buy these shoes may find themselves walking more, and that “the real effect may come from simple awareness that they are wearing a muscle-activating shoe, causing them to walk more briskly and with purpose.”
Cross-Trainers
While many athletic shoes are engineered for a special sport or purpose, the average women who is engaging in a mixture of moderate exercises should consider a cross-trainer. Cross-training shoes are designed with a variety of activities in mind. They have the side support of a tennis shoe, and the flexibility and heel cushioning of a running or walking shoe.
References
- Runner’s World, “Choosing a Shoe: The Very Basics,” (no author listed), August 2003.
- American Academy of Podiatric Sports Medicine, “Selecting A Running Shoe,” by Stephen M. Pribut, D.P.M., F.A.A.P.S.M., February 2011.
- The New York Times, “Firm Body, No Workout Required?”By Tara Parker-Pope, December 2009.
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