The holidays are a popular time to purchase athletic shoes, either as gifts for other people or treats for you. However, there a few things about modern shoes every buyer should know.

For one thing, many athletic shoes are now being made with a lighter insole. This makes the footwear look narrower and trendy, but isn’t very stable and could increase the risk of injury. According to Sports Podiatrist Robert F. Weiss, buyers should also make sure they find footwear that uses biomechanics properly to maximize the forward recovery system of stepping.

Exercising with the wrong kind of shoes can be disastrous to your health. If you need help choosing between a walking and a running shoe, contact a podiatrist like Dr. Henry Slomowitz of New Jersey. Dr. Slomowitz can give you the information you need to take the right step forward.

Foot Health: The Differences between Walking & Running Shoes

There are great ways to stay in shape: running and walking are two great exercises to a healthy lifestyle. It is important to know that running shoes and walking shoes are not interchangeable. There is a key difference on how the feet hit the ground when someone is running or walking. This is why one should be aware that a shoe is designed differently for each activity.

You may be asking yourself what the real differences are between walking and running shoes and the answers may shock you.

Differences

Walking doesn’t involve as much stress or impact on the feet as running does. However, this doesn’t mean that you should be any less prepared. When you’re walking, you land on your heels and have your foot roll forward. This rolling motion requires additional support to the feet.

Flexibility – walking shoes are designed to have soft, flexible soles. This allows the walker to push off easily with each step.

Heel – walking shoes also have a beveled or angled heel. This helps absorb shock and puts less pressure on the ankles.

Running

When you are running, you might not realize how much impact is being caused every time you land. Damage to your ankle, heel, or foot itself can occur if proper equipment is not used.

To learn more about The Differences Between Walking and Running Shoes, follow the link below.

If you have any questions, please contact our offices in Paterson and Paramus, NJ. We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot care needs.

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Chelsea McKell, owner of UtahRunningGuide.com and former Brigham Young University cross-country athlete, urges those who have had trouble running not to give up.  As an avid runner McKell has experience with choosing running shoes and so she offers some tips to others looking to select the perfect pair.  

Buying running shoes a half to a whole size larger than what you’d normally wear is recommended because feet typically swell during exercise and need the extra room.  Getting a running-gait analysis is also recommended because it is a process that can assess the needs of your feet.  McKell also recommends not buying into trends, since everybody is different.  

As McKell points out, getting the proper running shoeis vital to a good workout and learning the difference between walking and running shoescan help you get the most out of your workout and prevent injuries. In order to further help you with your exercise regimen, it is recommended to seek the care of a chiropodist like Dr. Henry Slomowitz of New Jersey. Dr. Slomowitz can work with you and give you a better understanding how your feet are affected by both running and walking shoes.

Walking

Flexibility – walking shoes are designed to have soft, flexible soles. This allows the walker to push off easily with each step.

Heel – walking shoes also have a beveled or angled heel. This helps absorb shock and puts less pressure on the ankles.

Running

Light Weight – running shoes are generally made of more lightweight material to reduce the amount of weight your body needs to lift with each stride.

Thicker Soles – running shoes also provide shock absorbers that reduce the rippling effects of impacting the ground during each stride.

To learn more about how these types of shoes play a role in fitness, visit our link below.

If you have any questions, please contact our offices in Paterson and Paramus, NJ. We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment services for all your podiatric needs.

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