Do I need different pairs of shoes to play tennis, run, and do aerobics?
While it will do some damage to your bank account, you need a sport-specific pair of shoes for any activity you do more than three times a week. Otherwise you risk injury and may hamper your performance. A running shoe, for example, provides extra cushioning and has a more durable outsole (the bottom of a shoe) than an aerobics shoe, which supports your ankle when you make sudden side-to-side movements.
A tennis shoe also lets you move laterally more easily than a running shoe, and, like the aerobics shoe, will help prevent your foot from rolling over and causing an ankle sprain when you make a sudden stop. The tennis shoe has extra rubber in areas that receive the most punishment in this sport, such as the toe and ball of the foot.
A cross training shoe combines the forefoot flexibility of a running shoe with the side-to-side support of an aerobics shoe, and may be a good choice if you do several different activities.
What brands should I look for?
There's no overall winning manufacturer. Once you try on several brands, you'll realize that every company has its own style; some make shoes for wide feet, others put in a lot of arch support. Even sizing varies from make to make. You may wear a 10 in one brand and an 11 in another. So forget advertising and sponsored athletes and go for the pair that suits your feet.
How can I be sure the shoe fits?
"Shoes shouldn't need to be broken in to feel comfortable," says Tom Brunick, director of The Athlete's Foot Stores R&D Center in Naperville, Illinois. "If a shoe is uncomfortable in the store, that discomfort will be compounded at the gym or on the road." Here are some tips for finding a good fit:
How often should I replace my shoes?
If you exercise three to five times a week, probably every three to six months is a good guide. Better yet, examine your shoes closely once a month and look for signs of excessive wear, such as missing tread, flattened midsoles, and torn stitching where the uppers meet the sole. Pay attention to what your feet are telling you, as well. When your dogs are barking incessantly, it's time for new shoes.
—Tonia Moore is a freelance health writer and editor based in the San Francisco Bay Area. A former senior editor at Consumer Health Interactive, she has also served as copy chief for Health magazine and a copyeditor of The Self-Care Advisor (Time Inc. Health).
References
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Miller JE, Nigg BM. Liu W, et al. Influence of foot, leg and shoe characteristics on subjective comfort. Foot Ankle Int. 2000 Sep;21(9):759-67.
Reinschmidt C, Nigg BM. Current issues in the design of running and court shoes. Sportverletz Sportschaden. 2000 Sep;14(3):71-81.
Sachithanandam V, Joseph B. The influence of footwear on the prevalence of flat foot. A survey of 1846 skeletally mature persons.
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Foot Fitness for Life. American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society. Last updated November 23, 2003.
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