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Get the Best Running Shoes for the Money

Tom Willemann |

PTD0115_SneakerGiven the wide range of running shoes on the market, you may wonder whether you need to buy the most current or expensive pair of shoes. A shoe is only as good as the protection it offers the runner. Because the plantar fascia, a thick connective tissue running along the sole of the foot, carries up to 14% of the total load of the foot, it seems sensible that running shoes should cushion the foot and protect the runner from injuries that affect knees, hips and the back. This is especially important because once injured, they can be difficult to rehabilitate.
However, a 2013 study from the Sports Medicine Research Laboratory in Luxembourg found no difference in injuries between runners who wore cushioned shoes and those who wore hard shoes. And a 2009 study published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine found no evidence that wearing cushioned shoes makes a runner less prone to injury. Early running champions ran in canvas shoes, their only shock absorption coming from the compression of their legs and the thick pad of midfoot fat. In fact, Arthur Lydiard, the most influential distance-running coach of all time, advocates wearing shoes that let your foot function like they’re barefoot. For the general population I still recommend a cushioned shoe, but realize the possible benefits of allowing the foot to closely contact the ground.  If you are in the market for a new pair of running shoes, here are some suggestions:
• Visit a specialty running shoe store. Sam McKinnon, a Clinical Pedorthotist from Active Footwear Center in Ridgewood, NJ is a great local resource.
• Have your feet measured for size every time you buy a new pair.  Believe it or not, the foot can change in size and/or width over time.
• Try the shoes on. The shoe should feel snug but not tight. Because feet swell and lengthen during a run, make sure there is a thumb’s width between your toe and the end of the shoe.
• Buy your shoes in the evening; your feet reach their greatest size by about 4 p.m.
• Avoid buying a shoe for looks or purchasing shoes that are too small.
• When you are ready to pay, ask if there are any discounts available for running club members.
At Apex, we can assess your foot and devise a progressive running program based on your age and level of fitness. We can create a “map” of your foot and determine the proper amount of cushion needed to support you consistently while you add up the miles.
Apex Orthopedic Rehabilitation in Wyckoff, NJ provides orthopedic and sports physical therapy services for the greater Ridgewood, Wyckoff, and Bergen County region. This blog is intended for informational purposes only and should not be used for diagnostic or prescriptive purposes. The views expressed here are the author’s views and should be taken as suggestions. Always consult your doctor or healthcare practitioner before engaging in a physical therapy or rehabilitative program.
 

Tom Willemann

Tom Willemann

Tom Willemann is a premier physical therapist based out of Bergen County, New Jersey. He holds an MS in physical therapy from the University of Miami, is credentialed in the world-renowned McKenzie Method of Mechanical Diagnosis and Therapy (MDT), and holds an OCS (Orthopedic Clinical Specialist) certification. As of 2018, there are approximately 14,000 ABPTS certified specialists in the nation and less than 400 of them are located in the state of New Jersey. Tom is the owner and director of Apex Orthopedic Rehabilitation in Paramus. He opened the clinic, which specializes in spine and sports injury prevention, in 2004 after many years of experience in the field. Tom’s caring interest in others and his strong belief in continuity of care, combined with his clinic’s ability to find solutions for the most difficult orthopedic problems, have earned Apex Orthopedic Rehabilitation its excellent reputation with patients and medical professionals in northeastern New Jersey and beyond. A true “family man,” Tom takes pride in his clinic’s warm and welcoming environment.
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