Are Your Shoes Hurting or Helping Your Foot Pain?
We get this question from patients/clients A LOT :
“what pair of shoes should I get?” or
“what brand of shoes do you recommend?”
Truth is, this is a loaded question and there is no one great answer for every person.
Today I am going to try and simplify some things about footwear to help you better understand how to find a pair of shoes that are good for YOUR feet.
Typically speaking there are 3 different “types” of shoes made by just about every brand out there.
There are shoes for those who have over pronated or “flat feet”. If you look at the back of your shoes you will notice these shoes have a thicker sole on the INSIDE of the shoe compared to the outside.
There are shoes for those with a neutral foot or “normal” arch height. From a rear view of the shoe you will notice these shoes have the SAME sole thickness on the both the inside and the outside, hints the name “neutral”.
And then there are some shoes that are made for people with supinated or “high” ached feet. These are characterized by having a thicker sole on the OUTSIDE of the shoes as compared to the inside.
Heres the tricky part: How do know which foot type you are?
Finding an expert in assessing your body and how it moves is the absolute best way to get you on the right track for recovery or just overall performance!
Trying to self diagnose your issue or your exact foot type can be time consuming, and cost you more money in the end by trying to guess which shoes might be right for you!
I also suggest to most patients to STOP buying their shoes off the internet and find a good local shoe store to get their footwear. Having experts help you pick out the right shoe for you and your activity can be a game changer.
If you’re someone who has been dealing with foot, knee, or hip pain you should absolutely be taking a look at your footwear to at least rule out the fact that they may be perpetuating your problem. Having a good pair of shoes that match your feet can make a HUGE difference particularly for those people who do a lot of repetitive activities like excessive walking or running.
If you’re ready to take control of your health and wellness then sign up for a discovery session today with one of our experts to determine if your shoes may be hurting or helping your foot, knee, or hip issues!