I used to never pay attention that much to gearing up when it comes to athletic activity having had this notion that it’s more with the athlete and not the gear. That’s why I usually just pick the most economical shoes off the rack not until I started developing knee problems did I consider getting expert advice.

That’s when I found out that I’m practically destroying my knees wearing the wrong kind of shoes. People have different foot types and, if you’re jogging and running, you better get one. Foot type determines the way your foot distributes weight in a cycle of a gait (pronation). If you happen to over- or under-pronate (often times easily addressed by the proper shoes), it can damage your feet, knees and legs .

You can check your foot type by a simple wet test. Simply dampen your soles and step on a sheet of paper (see picture). The mark it leaves on the paper can tell you your foot type. As for what they mean.

Normal -A normal foot is considered to have normal pronation which means the foot lands on the outside of the heel and rolls slightly inward absorbing the impact. People with such feet can practically wear any shoe though springing for a stability model would be best.

Flat (My foot type) – The flat foot overpronates meaning the outside of the heel rolls excessively inward to absorb impact. This excessive action makes people with flat feet more susceptible to injury. Best shoes would be stability models with motion control features.

High-arched - The opposite of the flat foot, high-arched feet causes one to underpronate (or supinate). This means that the impact is not efficiently absorbed through pronation. Best shoes wold be those that provide cushioning.

While these can tell you much about what running shoe is best for you, it’s always best to consult with experts. Try visiting a special running store that offer gait analysis as well so they can direct you to the best gear for your foot type.

Tags: Athletics, Fitness, Foot Type, Jogging, Running, Shoes, Weight Loss