You're just steps away from a better workout exercise. Here is how to pick a pair of footwear designed and targeted in the direction of your routine and body.
Running Shoes vs. Cross-Trainers
Go with running footwear if you mainly jog or walk, since they are manufactured and designed for heel-to-toe motion. Why not walking shoes?
“Running sneakers cater to a wider range of foot types and are built to last longer,” says Megan Leahy, a doctor of podiatric medicine at the Illinois Bone & Joint Institute, in Chicago.
Go with cross-trainers if your routine includes an activity like aerobics, weight training, or kickboxing (basically any exercise on a hard surface that involves side-to-side movement).
What’s Your Foot Type?
“Runners knee, plantar fasciitis, and early-onset arthritis are just a few problems that arise from exercising in the wrong sneakers,” says Louis Pack, a podiatrist in Greensboro, Georgia, and the author of The Arthritis Revolution. In contrast, shoes designed to compensate for the impact of your feet can prevent injuries and improve structural alignment and performance. To determine your foot type: Have a podiatrist examine you, or get an idea yourself by looking at the soles of a pair of worn-in flats.
“The wear patterns show where you're putting pressure when you walk,” says Pack.
Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/health/2011/11/11/how-to-choose-right-athletic-shoes/#ixzz1dhmcqKBU