How to Pick the Right Shoes for Exercising

"Running shoes are designed to provide maximum overall shock absorption for the foot," says Joanie Greggains, TV and KGO Radio fitness expert and author of "Fit Happens." "Such a shoe should also have good heel control. Although not a cure-all, these qualities in a running shoe help to prevent shin splints, tendonitis, heel pain, stress fractures and other overuse syndromes."

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

• Running Shoes
• Running Socks

1. Visit a shoe store at the end of a workout, when your feet are largest.
2. Wear the socks you normally wear when working out.
3. Have your feet measured.
4. Fit the shoe to the largest foot.
5. Make sure the shoe provides at least one thumb's width of space from the longest toe to the end of the toe box.
6. Buy a shoe that addresses any problems you have. For example, get a wide heel if you roll your ankles; get extra cushioning if you have heel pain and/or shin splints.
7. Choose a shoe with a flexible toe for running. Or, if you play sports like tennis, buy a shoe with good lateral control.

Tips & Warnings

• "You do not need a different pair of shoes for every sport you play. Generally, you should wear sport-specific shoes for sports you play more than three times a week. And if you have worked out for some time injury-free, then stick with the particular shoe you have been wearing," Greggains advises.
• "Women who have big or wide feet should consider buying men's or boy's shoes, which are cut wider for the same length," she says.
• The wrong shoe, or a broken-down shoe, can cause injury and/or aggravate existing injuries.