Runner's shoes

The offer of shoes for runners is so wide that the choice is not just a simple one. How to choose the best shoes for your foot type? Good footwear has an impact on the quality of training and it depends on whether we will be struggling with injuries and pain. To find the right shoe for your foot type, you need to check how it fits when you walk.

The first method is a wet footprint on a sheet of paper (A4). Just soak your foot in water and press firmly on the sheet of paper. For a more visible effect, a dye can be added to the water (poster paint, food colour). Another way is to see your worn out shoes. It is necessary to check carefully which places they have tried the most: from the outside or on the outside. The same applies to the front of shoes and heel.

Supinator, pronator or neutral?

Depending on the position of the foot during the run, there are three groups:

1) Pronator. This group is distinguished by the imprint of the foot, which is complete after our tests. If the constriction on the foot is small or it does not belong to the group of pronators. After checking the shoes, the abrasion should be visible on the inside as a result of putting the feet in. Most often it is a flatfoot symptom.

(2) Neutral. The footprint on paper is ideal. In this case, the shoes are rubbed off evenly over the entire surface. For people with this type of foot it is easiest to choose shoes of any kind, not only for running.

(3) Supinator. The footprint is very narrow and can also be interrupted. The footprint is very high. Shoes tear off on the outside. During the run, the weight of the body rests on the outside of the foot.

What shoes and for whom?

Pronoters must use boots with good stabilisation to prevent the feet from sinking inside. Footwear for pronotors must have reinforcement on the inside. Such boots are most often referred to as Motion Control or Stability.

Supinators have to adjust the footwear that suits them best, as the manufacturers have not foreseen a special type of shoe for this type of foot. However, they must avoid pronotor shoes altogether, as this would increase the support of body weight on the outside of the foot. For people with this type of feet the most suitable shoes will be shoes marked as Cushioned. The offer of shoes for neutrals is the largest. You can choose from many models and styles. Manufacturers very often use mixing options, the fitting of which can be a lot of trouble on its own. If you want to fit running shoes perfectly and are not sure which type you belong to, it is best to seek advice from an orthopedist or physiotherapist. With the help of a doctor, we will be sure that the trainings will not cause us any health problems at a later date.