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health & fitness

Picking The Right Sneaker

by Paula Allia - PT, DHSc, MTC, OCS

ew Year’s resolutions are here! After Then there are variations to these. This arch is formed from the
the holidays each of us regroup. We surrounding joints and tissue. Over years, sometimes the arch
Nthink about what we are thankful changes. It is not uncommon that the arch drops more toward the
for at Thanksgiving. Through Hanukkah pronated foot and ultimately toward a flat foot as one ages.
and Christmas, we continue with family and When buying a sneaker, one should know at the very minimum
friends on an eating and drinking fiesta. It what type of arch they have. The idea is that with both feet on the
seems that people find comfort in allowing ground your foot position provides a stable base on which to not
themselves to break all of the rules and only stand but to perform all of your activities in. Sneakers need
indulge. to support your specific arch. Certain models support the normal
Now, the time has come to lace up those sneakers and get arch and allow the foot to propel you forward while letting your
serious about some sort of exercise. foot react and transition from the hindfoot (rear of the foot) to
Many people buy sneakers based on the color. Others purchase the midfoot where the arch is and then to the forefoot (front of
because a friend told them to get them. Which sneaker should the foot). Other shoes need to provide some support and try and
you buy to exercise in? Does is really matter? guide your foot through the transitions when walking or running.
In 2020, there were over 22 billion pairs of shoes produced. This amount of support varies depending upon on the foot type.
A large percentage of these shoes were athletic footwear with over Foot evaluations and gait analysis are extremely helpful when
14 billion dollars in annual sales reported in June, 2021. There are it comes to buying sneakers. When in the sneaker your foot can
plenty of athletic footwear companies that produce shoes today. be observed through the step and stride length that you exhibit.
In fact, there are at least 17 well-known companies that capitalize Finding the right shoes that help to correct a deficient gait can
on the market. It is such a huge market that some regular shoe provide a smooth transition from one phase of gait to the next.
companies have now added them to their lineup. The construction of athletic shoes varies tremendously.
As a shopper, it can be very confusing. What are the important Different materials are made to support the foot and allow for
characteristics of a pair of sneakers that make you want to buy smooth transitions. Some are made specifically for a certain sport.
them? Shoes should be specific to the individual. It is extremely All should have the common denominator of support to the arch
important to identify the: • Shape of the foot • Arch of the foot with the proper last. If this is not present, the foot will have to
• Coordination of the forefoot, midfoot, and hindfoot to work absorb the pressures of a specific gait. Over time, the foot can
breakdown leading to discomfort and ultimately dysfunction.
together • The gait of the person
Discover your foot type and support the needs of the foot.
The fit of a shoe depends upon the shoe “last”. This “last”
Whether standing, walking, running, or otherwise, proper support
represents some of the anatomical positioning of the foot. The
should be comforting to your foot and may even correct other
common types of lasts are the straight, semi-curved, and curve.
dysfunctions up through the leg. Remember, when the foot hits
This represents the shape of a specific foot. One way that you can
the ground, the adaptation that occurs at the feet is pertinent
find out which type you have is to get your feet wet then stand
to the longevity of your desired activities. Be smart. Educate
on something that you can see your imprint on the ground. This
yourself. If problems exist, consider getting orthotics to work with
will determine the last angle that you have. Wearing a curve lasted
the proper shoe. Overcorrection can occur if you use an orthotic
sneaker with a straight lasted foot is not ideal for you. This MUST
in the wrong shoes.
be a consideration when shopping for the perfect sneaker.
Next, the arch of the foot is extremely important. Essentially Here’s To Your Health!
there are three main arches, pronation, normal, and supination.
Fitness Together 335 14 Ave South, Naples, FL 34102 239.263.9348 www.fitnesstogether.com/naples
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72 Life in Naples | January 2023