HIGHLY CUSHIONED RUNNING SHOES NOT FOR EVERYONE

posted: Feb. 08, 2022.

Choosing comfortable running shoes seems simple enough: Find the cushiest insoles possible and bounce along on your run, right? Wrong! Cushioning in running shoes is not just about pillowy insoles. It's also about adding shock absorption and a spring to your step, according to Pennsylvania-based podiatrist Tyler Austin, DPM. Too much of it can actually be detrimental to runners who don't really need it.

 

Dr. Tyler Austin

 

So, who can truly benefit from cushioned running shoes? Dr. Austin recommends these types of running shoes for heel-first and mid-foot runners because more of their foot makes contact with the ground than forefoot runners. "You don't need all the extra cushioning if you're only making impact with the ground using the balls of your feet," he advises. In addition, he suggests cushioned running shoes for anyone dealing with the loss of natural fat pads, i.e. seasoned runners whose fat pads have slightly atrophied over time, especially in the balls of their feet. "Extra cushioning in the shoe can certainly help redistribute pressure and make walking and running more comfortable on those bony surfaces," according to Dr. Austin.

 

Source:  Kat de Naoum, Shape [2/5/22]

Courtesy of Barry Block, editor of PM News