| When buying running shoes to maximize your | | | | case. Those with high arches can experience |
| workout and prevent injuries, arch support is the first | | | | underpronation, a neutral stride, or even |
| order of priority. Each person has a unique foot type, | | | | overpronation. Similarly, those with low or medium |
| just like a fingerprint. This type is defined by the | | | | arches can also experience any of the three |
| shape of the main arch on the foot, along with the | | | | movements. Many people purchase running shoes by |
| extent of pronation, or inward rolling of the foot | | | | finding out their arch type through the "wet test." |
| upon impact with the ground. The best way to | | | | This popular but faulty test tells only part of the |
| prevent fatigue and hyperextension, then, is to | | | | story. It shows the wet imprint on paper of the |
| relieve some of the pressure supported by the main | | | | bottom of the foot when not in motion. Since the |
| arch of the foot. | | | | shape of the arch doesn't indicate the extent of |
| Pronation is the extent to which the main arch on the | | | | pronation, the "wet test" cannot determine foot |
| inside of the foot, while in stride, collapses inward | | | | type. Also, the test doesn't take into account bone |
| upon impact. The best way to measure it is by | | | | structure of the leg, which can affect pronation. |
| seeing how worn the bottoms of the shoes are | | | | The extent of pronation is not necessarily the cause |
| along the inner and outer curves. A neutral stride | | | | of all running-related injuries. Running shoes with little |
| means that the arch collapses just enough for proper | | | | cushioning don't absorb the shock of each impact, |
| flexibility of the foot. Running shoes are much less of | | | | and thus transfer the pressure to the arch. To |
| a hassle to choose once the buyer notices a neutral | | | | prevent damage to the arch, shoes can be |
| stride. However, there are many shoes that solve | | | | complemented with "insoles," which absorb some of |
| the problems of overpronation and underpronation of | | | | the shock. Insoles are not to be confused with |
| the arch. | | | | external arch supports, a plastic shell that can be |
| Overpronation is the complete collapse of the arch, | | | | inserted in a shoe to restore foot structure and |
| and thus a complete rolling of the foot inward upon | | | | position during stride. |
| impact. This can cause hyperextension in the | | | | When looking for running shoes, one must know their |
| ligaments and tendons of the foot. Running shoes | | | | own foot type, composed of the shape of the arch |
| with high arch support solve this problem by limiting | | | | and extent of pronation. It is important to remember |
| the arch collapse. Underpronation is the lack of | | | | that pronation and arch shape are independent of |
| sufficient collapse, which can lead to fatigue of the | | | | each other, and that a shoe's arch support affects |
| arch and pain in the hip or lateral side of the knee. | | | | the extent of pronation. Overpronation and |
| Those who underpronate need neutral-cushioned | | | | underpronation can cause many injuries in the foot, |
| shoes with little arch support to allow for the natural | | | | but the arch can also suffer damage from a lack of |
| pronation motion. | | | | shock absorption. The best way to choose running |
| It may seem intuitive that underpronation goes "hand | | | | shoes is to know what your feet need to prevent |
| in hand" with high arches, but this is not always the | | | | injuries while still ensuring the maximum workout. |