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When you decide to buy a new pair of running shoes, you will be confronted by a wide range of options to choose from. Just buying the same brand and model that you have been wearing may not be an option as the appearance and possibly the features of that model may have changed since you bought the last pair. Running shoes are consumer items and the lure of the new drives change. When you do find a shoe that you like, it is worth considering buying a second pair and alternating their use. This extends the period for which you have shoes that you like and allows each pair to dry out between use. All modern running shoes are designed to feel comfortable when you try them on in the store. If you do have a problem with a particular model it probably will not become evident until you have worn them for some time. Trying out new shoes on a treadmill in the store is a better option than just putting them on and walking up and down a few metres. This will still not indicate how things like the sole pattern will cope with surfaces like bitumen or grass. Each brand manufacturer has decided on some feature that they consider to be something that differentiates them from other brands. This is usually the sole construction and so we have cushioning based on air, gel, wave, grid, etc. Other differentiation features include sole patterns and lacing arrangements. Is one of these running shoe constructions better than another? It depends on what you mean by better. You could look at research outcomes to determine if one form of cushioning reduces running injuries more than another - an interesting question to ask any of the brand representatives. Within running brands , terms like motion control, stability, cushioning, neutral and light weight are used to describe the properties of various models. These properties are then supposed to be matched to your running style and training characteristics. For example, you would think that adding a generous layer of cushioning in the sole of a shoe would reduce impact forces on the body and hence injuries, but is there evidence for this? Some studies indicate that removing the sensory signals that would normally operate during the foot impact stage of the running cycle reduces the capacity of the total leg structure to dissipate impact forces effectively. Other features like high, excessively padded heel counters can contribute to achilles problems.
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Running, Running Shoes, Shoe, Shoes,
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