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Intro: |
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If you participate in a number of different sports, but none too intensely, you can probably get by with a pair of cross-training shoes, which combine flexibility and stability in a way that's appropriate for a variety of sports. But if you participate in a particular sport three times a week or more, you'll probably want sport-specific shoes for the best protection. Here's a brief outline of the shoe requirements for some different sports: Running shoes emphasize cushioning and heel stability, to protect against the impact of your footfall. Because they deal very specifically with the foot's motion during running, there are different types of shoes for different types of motion, as well as different subsets of running, such as trails, road, racing, and jogging. Walking shoes should be cushioned in the heel and at the ball of the foot, which receive the most pressure during the rolling motion of walking. Recreational walking shoes have slightly more rigid soles than running shoes do, to encourage the smooth transfer of weight from heel to toe. (In contrast, running shoes bend more around the ball of the foot to assist the running step, which uses a sharper push-off from the ball of the foot than the walking step does.) Walking shoes should also be lightweight, to avoid any unnecessary leg fatigue. Note: Racewalking shoes are more specialized and are often more similar to running shoes. Basketball shoes need to provide a lot of stability for your feet and ankles because of the start-and-stop nature of the sport. A stiff, thick sole will provide stability for the feet, while a high-top shoe can help support your ankles while jumping (and landing). Tennis shoes and shoes for other racquet sports (like squash and racquetball) require firm lateral support for quick side-to-side movements. The sole under the ball of the foot also needs to be flexible to accommodate quick forward and backward motion. Shoes for racquet sports don't provide as much cushioning as other shoes do, because the court itself frequently provides additional cushioning. Note: With this in mind, you might want to ask a salesperson if the court surface for your game requires a specific shoe sole surface. Aerobic shoes should protect the ball of the foot, where most of the impact in aerobics takes place. They should also be lightweight in order to prevent extra leg fatigue, which can lead to injury.
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Determine your sport's needs
