How do you choose your athletics shoes? Maybe you go for big brand names, cool styles, the in colors, or even the price. The truth is that the wrong choice can cause you serious physical problems, not to mention severe foot, back and leg pain.
Suitable shoes for running will not give good support for walking. If you do both you will need shoes with flexible soles and lots of padding to absorb impact for running, and something stiffer and more substantial for walking.
It is important to know your particular feet when choosing athletics shoes. For example, you may have a particular area on the heel that tends to rub in some shoes, or you may have a high instep that requires extra support. Look at your old shoes to see which part is most worn.
Foot size changes quite often, so you need to have your feet measured properly every six months. Feet change in size as we get older and they swell with heat, so you need to select a size that will still fit you after an exercise session. Remember that different brands vary in their sizing. It also a good idea to take your own athletics socks with you when you go to buy your shoes. That way you can make sure that the shoes will fit properly with them on. They should feel comfortable right away, don't expect them to feel better with wear, because they won't.
You don't need to pay a small fortune for a pair of serviceable athletics shoes. There are all kinds of cool looking features on some brands, like light up heels, gel pads, clear inserts, even springs, but make sure that they actually serve some purpose for you before paying for them. Like everything else, you only get what you pay for, and very cheap, poorly designed shoes can cause injury in the same way as selecting the wrong type can.
Finally, don't forget that your athletics shoes will wear out, no matter how much you have paid for them. Once they become uncomfortable, or give your foot less support, they should be replaced to avoid injury.
