The right shoes for one person, will more than likely not be the right shoes for someone else! There are many different shoe manufacturers out there, with many different models. How do you know which one is right for you? Well, the most important thing is to know what kind of runner you are and what foot type you have.
When it comes to buying running shoes, you will no doubt hear the words pronation and supination. These are natural movements of the foot, which everyone does to some extent when they run and walk. The problem comes when the foot over-pronates, or over-supinates (sometimes known as under-pronates).
Pronation is where the arch of the foot flattens and the foot rolls inwards as you walk or run. Over-pronation means that too much of this motion occurs. Excessive pronation also causes an excessive inward rotation of the lower leg, knee and even upper leg, possibly causing overuse injuries such as achilles tendinopathies, plantar fasciitis and shin splints.
Supination is the opposite movement to pronation, causing the arch to rise and foot to roll outwards. Over-supination can also cause injuries, mostly because this causes the foot to be very rigid and so lacking in shock absorbing capabilities.
When in the market for running shoes, especially your first pair, you need to determine what happens at your feet when you run. There are many ways of doing this, but the best bet is to have a gait analysis. This involves a trained individual observing your feet and how you move, sometimes filming it so they can slow it right down!
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