Are you looking for running shoes for flat feet? These shoes can help protect you from sprains and strains. However, the right kind of shoe will also provide you with more comfort and stability during a walk or run.
It is easy to determine if you have low arches or flat feet. Just look at the footprints you leave when you walk in damp sand at the beach.
If the shape of your footprint shows most of your foot instead of the heel and forefoot then you most likely could benefit from wearing running shoes for flat feet.
Those who have low arches are going to be forcing their feet to absorb most of their body weight on the interior aspects of the arches. shoes for flat feet are designed to give your feet the additional control and support that they demand.
Pronation Or Over-Pronation
Pronation problems are part of life for anyone who has flat feet. Over pronation is an excessive rolling of the foot that delivers more pressure and force toward the inner part of the foot.
A normal foot with a regular arch will have a mild rolling motion, or pronation, when the individual is running; but this motion is exaggerated when the runner has low arches, or flat feet.
Why Choose Shoes For Flat Feet?
If you hope to discover the best running shoes for flat feet it is important for you to understand how the shoes can help.
The inward rolling action of flat feet strains the muscles and joints from the hips down to the feet. Your ankles and feet are being forced to roll over toward the center line of your body.
Without running shoes for flat feet there is nothing to prevent this physical motion from occurring. As time goes on your hips and knees will suffer as well as your legs, feet and ankles.
Someone with flat feet is producing 2-3 times the strain on their arches compared to a person with normal feet and normal arches. This physical strain can lead to ankle sprains, torn ligaments or other foot, ankle and leg injuries.
Choosing the right kind of shoes for flat feet will add more foot protection and can even prevent many of these common sports injuries.
Features Of Running Shoes Designed For Individuals With Over-Pronation
Some people have to deal with overpronation motion that is more severe than others. Many of these individuals will suffer from weakened ankles and other musculo-skeletal problems, especially when they do not use shoes for flat feet.
Comfortable padding along the heel and ankle will provide better physical comfort for runners. An adequate sized toe box and extra support for both the arch and inner portion of the foot are also important features to consider.
Those runners who have mild to moderate overpronation issues should choose stability running shoes or balance running shoes. These are designed to give your feet the proper, physical support they need without compromising the freedom of motion needed for optimal running.
If you have a more severe form of overpronation then motion the best running shoes for flat feet will be motion control running shoes. These sports shoes will give additional support and stability to the foot and the cushioning will add comfort.
Finding The Best Running Shoes For Flat Feet
When you are ready to choose shoes for flat feet you need to look for a design that:
- Provides your foot with stability and balance
- Produces control over the movements of your feet
- Has solid rear and mid-soles
- Does not have noticeably curved soles
Twist the shoe to determine if the rear and mid-sections are rigid enough to provide adequate foot support.
Hold the shoe up and see if the shape of the sole has a noticeable curved shape or has relatively straight lines.
You can quickly determine if there are multiple layers of padding or a single, solid layer of cushioned pad in the shoe.
The shoes with a single layer of padding will be the best running shoes for flat feet.
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