Prescriptions
Learn about your feet to find shoes that fit
By Angela Wagner
How many pairs of shoes do you have in your closet? Not high heels, and not slippers from Long's Drugs, but honest-to-goodness athletic shoes. I'm betting you have quite a few pairs in your garage or outside your front door.
The shoe industry has been striving for years to make people think they need a special pair of shoes for each and every sport, but this is just not true.
Now, certain activities do require special shoes. For instance, I would recommend that you run only in running shoes. Running shoes are designed specifically to combat the ground forces that are exerted on your body during running, and they also are designed specifically for forward movement. The downfall is that these types of shoes have limited lateral stability. This means you do not want to play basketball, or volleyball, or participate in any activity that involves a lot of side-to-side movement wearing your running shoes.
But can you play a mellow, at-the-park kind of basketball in running shoes? Yes, especially if it is a noncompetitive, nonserious event involving all your cousins and aunties who are definitely not professional basketball players.
In other words, do not let the lack of special shoes become an excuse to not exercise.
Not all sports require specialized shoes. In fact, whoever decided hiking was different than walking? Contrary to what sporting goods manufacturers will tell you, you can walk in hiking shoes, running shoes and even cross-training shoes. You simply need to select the shoes that are most comfortable and most appropriate for you. And remember, beach walking doesn't require any shoes at all!
What about kids? Do they need special basketball shoes and football shoes and other sport shoes depending on the season? This depends on the level of play and the age of the child. A kindergartner probably does not need a different pair of shoes for every sport. But an older child playing in more competitive leagues might need more specialized shoes, especially if the two sports are very different in their footwear requirements.
How do you decide what you may or may not need? It is best to educate yourself before you go shopping. Everyone needs a well-fitting pair of shoes for exercise. You probably will not find a well-fitting pair of athletic shoes in one of those bins where all the shoes are thrown together and you dig through the pile, hoping to find two shoes that are the right size. You do need to invest in a quality product. However, don't dismiss those shoes at sporting goods stores that are on the sale rack; often, they were considered "top of the line" six months ago. Even at 30 percent off, they may be perfect for you.
Look for sales clerks who are trained to assist you in finding what you need, and beware of clerks that only want to sell you expensive products. Your clerk should know what it means to overpronate (rolling the sole of the foot outwards) and should be able to diagnose this if they see you running. A good salesperson should also be able to look at the bottom of your old shoes and determine if you are walking or running evenly. If the clerk is unwilling to assist you with finding a shoe that fits, then you should find a store with more accommodating employees.
To learn more about your own feet, try the following exercises. Look at your toes. If your big toe and second toe are about the same length, you have what is called a square foot. If the big toe is longer than all the remaining toes on that foot, then you have an Egyptian foot. If your second toe is longer than your big toe, then you have a Greek foot.
A clerk may not understand what it means if you tell them you have a Greek foot, but they should be able to understand you may need a slightly longer shoe to accommodate your extra-long second toe. A person with a square foot may need a shoe that is wider in the toe area. Also, take a look at the shape of your wet footprint on cement. A high or rigid arch will produce a very thin footprint at midfoot, whereas a low arch will produce a very thick footprint at midfoot. Shoes are usually designed with certain arch types in mind.
Remember, salespeople are not doctors, but they should be knowledgeable about gait and its relationship to your specific shoe needs. Once you have found a reliable store that employs well-trained, knowledgeable people, ask questions and get specifics on what shoes they feel might be best for you. Many people are on their feet for most of the day. And you use your feet more than any other body part. You owe it to yourself to purchase good quality, well-fitting shoes. Before going shopping, it may be helpful to say to yourself a few times, "It's all about me!"
Angela Wagner is a free-lance writer who also works for the Queen's Medical Center as a health educator specializing in diabetes and exercise, and for the state Department of Health as a program manager in the Health Promotion and Education Branch.
Hawai'i experts in traditional medicine, naturopathic medicine, diet and exercise take turns writing the Prescriptions column. Send your questions to: Prescriptions, 'Ohana Section, The Ho-nolulu Advertiser, P.O. Box 3110, Honolulu, HI 96802; e-mail ohana@honoluluadvertiser.com; fax 535-8170. This column is not intended to provide medical advice; consult your doctor.
