DOES THE ULTIMATE
TRAINING SHOE
EXIST?
By Dr Michael Kinchington
My top x-training shoes for 2015 are:
Brooks Maximus for the heavy set 90+kg
body frame; Nike Free 5.0 for the -65kg
frame who has a neutral foot (neither
pronated or supinated); and Asics
740TR for the average sized person who
requires support and cushioning.
Choose shoes according to foot type
Use a resource to identify foot shape
and match shoe style and technology
to suit. Get this wrong and you will
never have correct fitting shoes that are
comfortable. Here is a short guide:
Medium arched feet
Flat or very low
arched feet
High arched feet
Medium arched feet
Normal or medium arched feet will leave a wet footprint that has a flare, but show the
forefoot and heel connected by a broad band. A normal foot lands on the outside of
the heel and rolls inwards slightly to absorb shock. It’s the foot of a runner who is biomechanically efficient and therefore doesn’t need a motion control shoe. Best shoes:
Stability shoes with moderate control features, check out what I call Premium Stability
shoes such as Asics Kanano, Brooks Transcend, Nike Structure, Mizuno Inspire.
Flat or very low arched feet
This type of foot leaves a footprint which looks like the whole sole of the foot. It tends
to be more flexible, strikes on the outside of the heel and rolls inwards (pronates),
flattening the arches. Over time, this can cause many different types of overuse
injuries. Best shoes: Maximum support shoes, or high stability shoes with firm midsoles
and control features that reduce the degree of pronation, such as Brooks Beast, Asics
Divide, Saucony Omni. Note: stay away from highly cushioned, highly curved shoes,
which lack stability features.
High arched feet
This type of foot leaves a footprint showing a very narrow band or no band at all
between the forefoot and the heel. A curved, highly arched foot is generally more
rigid than other foot types and lack shock absorbency capabilities. Best shoes:
Maximum cushioned shoes with plenty of flexibility to encourage foot motion, such
as Nike Vomero, Asics Cumulus, Brooks Glycerine. Note: stay away from maximum
support or stability shoes, which reduce foot mobility.
The ultimate training shoe exists for everyone. It just requires evaluating shoes
with your athletic activities and foot shape in mind. Happy hunting!
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P
odiatric sports
medicine practitioner,
Dr Michael
Kinchington explores
whether the ultimate
training shoe really does
exist.
In my line of work, I am very aware
that the retail world of sport shoes is
a jungle of jargon, opinions, myths
and misrepresentations. My patients
constantly ask “What is the best shoe for
me?” which is a reasonable question,
but the answer is more complicated
than giving a list of shoes as there are
many factors to take into consideration.
In this article, I have put together the
26
non-existent to first page position. For my PT business, it
basics of choosing the ultimate shoe.
The right shoe per athletic activity
Running is generally considered a
one-direction movement pattern. The
load forces of running are estimated to
be as high as three to four times your
bodyweight, therefore shoes should offer
a combination of cushion and stability to
absorb this stress. Generally, a flat-footed
runner is better suited to a shoe with
control-stability features with firm medial
post (dual density) that will protect the
foot as it rolls inwards. For the high arch
foot, a cushioned shoe will help absorb
impact forces better than a maximum
support shoe. The medium arched
runner can choose a neutral shoe that
combines support and cushion.
Sports like tennis, netball and
aerobics are multi-directional sports
so you need a shoe that offers lateral
support with mid-foot and forefoot
cushioning properties. The outsole tread
(herringbone sole) will ensure the grip on
the surface is not too severe and a blown
rubber forefoot outsole will provide
cushioning and flexibility.
Gym shoes used for indoor activities are
an entirely different proposition. These
shoes do not require the same degree of
structural support. If your gym workout
involves cycling, weights, rowing and
other non-weight bearing or semi-weight
bearing exercise then a lightweight
trainer may suffice. If you are a treadmill
enthusiast, a stable-cushioned jogger
will offer more support. If taking boxing,
cross fit or aerobics classes, a stable
x-trainer should be the shoe of choice.
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