This article was written by Sarah Klein and provided by our partners. Prevention.
Choosing the perfect pair of sneakers can feel like a daunting task. When you walk into a sporting goods store, you’re faced with a daunting wall full of options that flaunt features you didn’t even know you needed. But wearing the wrong shoes can ruin your workout. So where do you start? (Boost your mood, burn calories, and build muscle with the 21-Day Walk, Lose A Lot Challenge!)
There’s a reason why shoes made specifically for weightlifting, CrossFit, running, and even foot wraps for yoga are now available. “It’s best to choose sneakers that are appropriate for your primary activity,” says Bryce Newton, his manager at Brooks’ Running Global Shoes and his senior in charge of merchandising. “For example, runners need sneakers that can withstand repetitive patterns and the forces they experience while running.”
To the casual pedestrian’s eye, these carefully designed sneakers may seem just flashy and fun to try, but all the little decisions that go into the design of an exercise shoe , done with the goal of improving workout performance in mind. However, the features that improve running performance don’t necessarily work the same way for walking. “We start with what runners want and build on a deep understanding of biomechanics,” Newton says.
What runners want is usually different from what walkers want. For example, walking sneakers typically have better cushioning overall, but especially in the heel area, podiatrists say, Every Day is a Runway: The Shoe Lover’s Guide to Healthy Feet and Legs. “There’s less impact when you walk than when you run, but your feet are on the ground for a longer period of time, so cushioning can help offset that impact over time,” says Splichal. (She recommends her Therafit sneakers, which have approval from the National Posture Institute.)
When you walk, your feet move “like a rocking chair,” says Paulina Kelly, New Balance’s global product marketing manager for walking. “Weight is transferred from the heel through the ball of the foot to the toes.” In other words, a walker needs flexibility in the ball of the foot, which allows for rotational movement, and support in the arch, where the most force is applied when kicking the ground. , and can benefit from overall cushioning. Walking in poorly cushioned running shoes can lead to impact injuries such as plantar fasciitis, stress fractures, and Achilles tendonitis, Splichal says.
Here’s how to improve your running form.
Of course, Newton points out that walking and running are relatively similar, so some running sneakers may be suitable for walking as long as they have the right amount of support and the fit is comfortable. Masu. However, sneakers made for completely different training, such as Olympic weightlifting, should probably be avoided, as they have hard, flat soles for added stability when lifting super heavy weights.
Above all, we want to be comfortable. If you don’t do that, you won’t be able to keep walking. “Choosing the right shoes can help prevent discomfort and injury, and allow you to maintain an active lifestyle,” says Kelly. So when looking for the perfect walking shoe, start with cushioning and be sure to look for firm arch support, especially if your feet are flatter than usual, Splichal says.
Sarah Klein is a Boston-based writer, editor, and personal trainer, currently at LIVESTRONG.com and previously at Health.com. prevention Magazine, Huffington Post. She is a graduate of New York University’s Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute.
