Running shoes: It’s all about the roll
Fitness experts have long advised clients choosing a running shoe to forget fashion and consider the roll or pronation – the way the foot leans inward upon impact.
Analyzing the roll of the foot remains standard practice among fitness and medical professionals in the belief it will lead to a better shoe fit and fewer injuries.
The No. 1 cause of the overuse injuries from stress fractures to tendonitis to Plantar fasciitis (heel pain), is shoes that are worn out or the wrong fit.
There are three basic levels of control for standard running shoes: neutral, stability and motion control. “Neutral is generally good for a high-arch foot; it doesn’t provide extra control for pronation,” she said. “The stability shoe works for people who need more support; motion control is for the super flat-footed.”
Neutral shoes account for 60 to 63 percent of the running shoes sold in stores; 30 to 35 percent are stability shoes. Compared to 20 years ago, running shoes are really much more flexible, lightweight and well designed to work with movements of running.
Get a certified trainer to look at the biomechanics of how you’re running. How are you turning your foot? Are you a forefoot striker, midfoot striker, heel striker, or extreme heel striker?
Many of the common running-related injuries, such as runner’s knee, shin splints and hip issues are related to and exacerbated by improper footwear.
Nevertheless, a recent Danish study cast doubt on whether shoes that control pronation do actually cut down on injury. But the scientists said more work is needed to determine if highly pronated feet face a higher risk of injury than neutral feet.
via Blogger http://chiropractic-lane.blogspot.com/2013/08/running-shoes-its-all-about-roll.html
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