Choosing a sneaker can really help you step up your workout! We met up
with podiatrist Dr. Kate Blanchet of Comprehensive Foot & Ankle Surgery
here in Jupiter for her best sneaker selection tips. “My favorite
sneaker brands are Asics, New Balance, and Saucony. These brands carry
widths which may be helpful if you have a wider forefoot or a slight bunion.
Most people do better in a running vs walking style shoe (even if they
are not running) because they are lightweight with a fore giving mesh
forefoot area.”
Here are a couple other tips:
- The average athlete should avoid "minimalist" style shoes. Minimalist
shoes are very thin and flexible. Although they work for some people,
they can increase the rate of injury when the average athlete buys this
style shoe.
- If you are having pain in your Achilles tendon, make sure that the sole
of your sneaker is thicker in the heel than in the ball of the foot. There
should be about a 1 cm difference and recently shoes have been coming
out with only a 4-6 mm difference, this will put more strain on your Achilles tendon.
- If you already have orthotics, don't forget to bring them with you
when you are shopping. You should try the orthotic in the new shoe.
- Lastly, don't forget to save your receipt and check the store's
return policy. Often it takes more than 5 minutes of walking to decide
if a sneaker is right for you.