As with other exercise forms, walking requires the right equipment for a safe and effective routine.
Good walking shoes are essential; choosing appropriate shoes is crucial in maximizing exercise walking benefits.
Best Walking Shoes – Most Comfortable Shoes 2023
Finding the proper walking shoe may take some time and a bit of money, but achieving extended- and short-term benefits is essential.
Shoes are an essential piece of equipment for walking.
Walking Shoes Interact with the Back
Walking shoes provide necessary protection and mechanical support for the body’s foundation structures – the feet – which help keep the entire body balanced and aligned. When there is a minute imbalance in the feet, the compensatory domino effect causes changes throughout the body.
Specifically, when the body’s natural gait motion is off-balance, the body counterbalances the problem by redistributing weight.
This ultimately changes the spine’s natural posture and alignment, leading to muscle strain and back pain over time. Though the imbalance may seem minor, the body’s stresses can add up and cause unnecessary wear and tear in the long run.
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Finding the Correct Walking Shoes
The right walking shoes can help foster excellent balance and posture during exercise walking, while poorly fitted walking shoes can cause pain or increase injury susceptibility.
It is best to find a technical running shoe store that will watch the individual walk and provide a shoe that fits based on their biomechanics (this service is not typically found in a large chain store).
Walking shoes should allow the feet to roll slightly inward (pronation) naturally and outward (supination); To help absorb the different forces acting on the body.
For many people, either one or both feet underpronate (roll outward) or overpronate (roll inward), altering the balance and length of the leg during stance and gait.
Some shoes are designed to control overpronation, whereas others are designed to encourage pronation. Therefore it is essential to ensure that walking shoes match each individual’s biomechanical pattern.
An additional side effect of pronation and supination is the change in the natural curvature of the feet’ arches.
Overpronation – one or both feet excessively roll inward, causing the arch to flatten – also known as flat feet.” This will create excess motion in the leg as it internally rotates. The pelvis tilts to compensate for the leg’s rotation, tightening muscles in the lower back, fatigue, and stressing the spine’s components.
Under pronation – one or both feet fail to pronate and excessively roll outward, impairing the body’s ability to absorb shock. This added force is absorbed through the lower back and lower extremities joints and muscles, which may cause injury over time.
The feet are the crucial elements of gait motion, and maintaining a smooth gait is critical to preserving good spinal health.
To ensure the correct balance during exercise walking, one must limit the over-pronation and under-pronation of the feet. Good walking shoes should provide this stability.
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Guidelines for Buying Walking Shoes
Three essential factors should be considered before purchasing a new pair of walking shoes.
Stability – the shoes should have a balanced and secure feel throughout the range of motion.
Flexibility – the shoes should allow for a reasonable degree of giving at the toes’ base, providing smooth motion.
Comfort – walking shoes should comprise contours and paddingclosey to the feet’ providing a snug fit at the heel and midfoot, with ample room in the forefoot.
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When trying on shoes for exercise, it is advisable to examine the following four areas of walking shoes: The heel countries– the shoe area that holds the heel’s back, just underneath the Achilles tendon. This area should be snug but not tight, comfortably cupping the end of the heel. A good heel counter will help prevent the feet from overpronation or supination.
Midsole – the area between the tread and the cloth upper of the shoe. This is the most critical component of any footwear. Midsoles are made of various materials that give the shoe greater or lesser degrees of cushioning, support, and flexibility.
Insole – the area inside the shoe, on the bottom, where the sole is in contact with the shoe. It reduces shear forces between the foot and the shoe and provides some shock absorption. It should contour comfortably to the foot…
Toe box – the entire area that surrounds the toes. The toe box should provide adequate room for the toes to move freely. Wiggling and bending the toes at the knuckles should be unrestricted. Conversely, too much space will cause shifting and discomfort. There should be approximately one-half to an entire thumb’s width between the longest toe and the toe box’s end.
Read next – Buying Running Shoes.
How to Choose Your Best Walking Shoe
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