Shoes and You

The foot has 26 bones, 33 joints, over 100 ligaments, multiple layers of muscles and tendons as well as a network of nerves and blood vessels. The foot provides the support, balance and mechanics for propulsion which we depend on for any exercise involving foot contact with the ground. The foot will absorb up to four times or body weight during sport or training which is why your shoes need to be right and in good shape.

Before choosing a suitable sports shoe we need to know which foot type you have and how it is functioning. As sports footwear continues to improve and change technically, the need for professional advice for your footwear becomes even more important. During a 10 kilometre run, the feet will strike the ground on average around 9500 times! Even more reason to keep your shoes in good order.

Buying a shoe can be a complicated and confusing process due to the large range of brands and styles to choose from. There are now many types of shoes designed for specific sports and activities, and within these types there may be a range of styles to suit different foot types.

It is no secret that inappropriate or incorrectly fitted shoes will increase your risk of injury. Getting the right advice from your podiatrist and specialist sports footwear store is a very important ingredient to injury free sport and exercise.

We should also be aware that often a shoe alone is not enough. If this sounds like you then a visit to your sports podiatrist or physiotherapist is suggested. If you don't have a podiatrist or physiotherapist, please feel welcome to phone us or drop in to the store and we can refer you to one conveniently located to you.