Do Your Feet Ache While Exercising?

Proper Shoe Selection for the Active Individual

If your feet have been aching since your activity level has increased, you may need to look at your shoes. If your foot pain does not resolve after switching shoes, it is advisable to seek care from your physician.

Whether you have high arches or low arches, there are many things you can look for when purchasing new shoes.

Tip One:

Shop for shoes at the end of the day. When you are exercising your feet will swell. So at the end of the day, you will experience some natural swelling and this can be a better representation of how your feet will feel while exercising.

Tip Two:

Consider one size larger in your workout shoe. It can make a difference in comfort when you go up a full size in your workout shoe.

Tip Three:

A decent shoe can become more supportive with high-quality over-the-counter inserts. There are dozens of over-the-counter inserts available. Plenty of inserts that cost $50 or less will provide adequate support.

The first thing you should do is take the insert out of the package. Upon investigation of the insert, if it completely bends, it most likely will not be enough support for you. Make sure when you test the insert, it can only bend minimally.

Tip Four:

If you have a wide forefoot this doesn’t necessarily mean you have a wider heel. Some individuals with a wide forefoot and narrow heel will rise out of their shoes causing friction blisters. If you notice you are rising out of your shoes, you may need to find a shoe with a narrower heel. Saucony has a nice spacious toe box that can fit like a glove if you have a narrow heel.

Tip Five:

A wide foot is common and the shoe industry has taken advantage of this by making many excellent shoes in this category. Brooks, New Balance, and Saucony work well for a generalized wide foot. When you have a wide foot, you often have a need for torsion control. 

There is a simple test that can be done at the shoe store by turning and twisting the shoe at the midsole. Move the forefoot of the shoe one direction, while moving the rearfoot of the shoe in the opposite direction. Envision you are wringing out a wet towel, if you can easily move the shoe with the force of your hands, this shoe is not going to be supportive for the common conditions associated with a wider foot. You will want to keep searching for a more supportive shoe. 

Tip 6:

If you have a narrow foot and have had trouble finding one that fits well, you may want to try Asics. Often times, a higher arched foot is more narrow. Higher arched feet may need extra cushion. Adding a shoe insert into a narrow fitting Asics may help with the discomfort associated with a high arch.