Running is a strenuous activity. It puts a lot of pressure on your ankles, can rapidly decrease your energy levels and there is always the possibility of injuring yourself. To seek balance and improve your performance, you need the right pair of running shoes.
Before you consider the fit or the weight of the shoes, there is one important factor that needs to be taken into account. Without analyzing and putting it into consideration, you open yourself up to injury, pain, and foot problems.
Before you get your next pair of running shoes, let’s delve deeper into pronation and reveal some things that you might not have known about it.
What does Pronation Mean?
If this isn’t your first time shopping for running shoes, you would have heard the term ‘pronation’ used a couple of times. Pronation is a way used to describe how your feet roll when you walk or run; this rotation can be inwards or outwards.
There are three different types of pronation and the first is neutral or normal pronation. For neutral pronation, the feet don’t roll excessively inward or outward. The next is under pronation and for this, the feet don’t roll inward enough. The last is overpronation where the feet have an inward roll.
Your type of pronation is key in figuring out the best shoes for you.
Finding Out Your Pronation
Wearing the wrong shoes can result in injury for a person with over or under pronation. Some retail stores like ASICS stores in AU can perform a quick gait analysis before you shop but where this isn’t possible, you can have the analysis carried out in a health center.
Conducting a gait analysis is important especially when you intend to run long distances or enter into a competition.
What To Wear Depending on Your Pronation
People with neutral pronation, have an even distribution of weight and pressure in their feet due to the slight inward and outward movement of their feet. If you are a neutral runner, then you can wear almost any type of running shoes as your choice of shoes will depend on the activity you are engaging in and the environment.
People with underpronation, need running shoes with enough support and cushioning. The cushioning should be targeted at protecting the lower legs as it faces most of the pressure and shock that comes from making contact with the ground. An under pronator who wears neutral shoes may suffer from heel pain, ankle strain, and shin splints.
For the overpronators, stability shoes are the way to go. These shoes give stability and support to the feet and most of the cushioning is targeted towards protecting the inner edge of the foot since it bears the most weight.
Stores that carry a variety of shoes have running shoes for every individual depending on their pronation. If you aren’t sure what to buy, check the reviews on the shoes you are interested in as they could help in finalizing your decision.
What Else Can I Do to Get the Right Shoes?
Make sure the material used to make the shoes is breathable as you don’t want to feet to be clammy or end up having blisters. If you wish to try out the shoes, take a pair of your favorite socks along with you as it would give you a better feel of the shoes.
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