Protect your feet, maximize your performance, and limit the potential for injury by choosing the proper athletic shoe for your foot type and activity. It is vitally important that you select a shoe that fits properly, and works with you, to lessen the impact of each step and to cushion your feet from heavy landings.
When you invest in a quality shoe, not only can you help prevent foot, ankle, knee, and back pain, but you can also have a more pleasant and comfortable workout experience.
At Sole Dimensions, we carry Asics, Brooks, and New Balance, the shoe brands with solid reputations of quality, comfort, and functionality. While each of these brands design shoes for every foot type, our team can help identify the nuances in the shoes and in your feet to help you find the shoe with the right features for you.
Types of Athletic Shoe
At Sole Dimensions, we focus on walking and running shoes, as opposed to court shoes. With running shoes, the focus is on forward movement, as opposed to lateral movement in shoes targeted to tennis and basketball.
Running shoes target three specific types of design. The designs primarily focus on your type of pronation. According to Asics.com, “pronation refers to the way your foot rolls inward for impact distribution upon landing.” (We can give you a personalized foot assessment to determine your pronation type.)
Understanding the shoe types can help you better choose one that meets your needs.
Neutral. Neutral shoes are designed for people with a neutral gait, or who neither underpronate nor overpronate. Neutral gait walkers and runners have an efficient heel-to-toe strike which allows the body to naturally absorb shock. Neutral shoes do not affect the motion of your feet, but they often offer extra cushioning. People who are larger or who have high arches tend to prefer neutral shoes.
Neutral shoes can be worn by underpronators, runners whose heel often leans outward, putting more weight on the outer edge of the foot.
Stability. Stability shoes are recommended for people who overpronate. Someone who overpronates lands on the outside of the heel then rolls inward. Overpronators may feel pressure on their big toe and second toe when they push off. Typically, the inside, bottom edge of the shoe will be considerably more worn than the outer edge. Supportive features of stability shoes include additional cushioning in the midsole area, under the arch of the shoe, to offset the inward tilt.
Motion control. Motion-control shoes are typically the most rigid and heavy shoes available and are geared toward runners and walkers with flat feet. These shoes are designed for the overpronator, and can also be good for heavy runners.
Personal Preferences
We listen to you. While your gait analysis may point to a specific shoe, we know that everyone has particular preferences towards their shoes. Let us know:
Ultimately, the fit is the most important thing, so come in today and try on some shoes!
Don’t derail your fitness goals with inappropriate shoes. Let Sole Dimensions help find the right shoe for you.