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Believe it or not, there's an easy way to figure it out at home.
Prevent injury with the right running shoes
Serious, competitive runners can tell you in minute detail about their running style and their preferred type of running shoes. The majority of the population continue to remain mystified on how to select the right running shoes for their requirements with the vast array of brands and styles available these days.
So how do you choose the right running shoe for you? Believe it or not, there's an easy way to figure it out at home.
Try the wet test
Crank up the shower or fill the bath with a little water. Submerge your foot and once it's nice and wet, step on to a piece of paper or card. It will leave an imprint of your foot. Use this wet footprint to analyse your arches.
Normal arches
If you only see about half of the width of the middle foot, you have a medium arch, which is good news and considered normal. The fancy term to describe this is normal pronation because your foot and arch actually does the job it's designed to do properly and absorbs the shock as the foot connects with the ground.
Flat arches
If you see almost the entire footprint, you are flat footed. This is known as over pronation, meaning your arch collapses slightly after each stride.
High arches
Footprints where you can barely see the middle of the foot indicate a high arch, which reveals you are an under pronator. This leads to your lower legs working as shock absorbers, as your arches aren't providing the correct support.
Selecting the right shoes for your arches
Once you've established what kind of feet you have, it's time to match it up with the perfect pair of running or walking shoes.
Normal arches
You will need shoes with arch support to provide your foot with stability.
Flat arches
Choose a shoe with motion control to prevent injury from ankle rolling.
High arches
Extra cushioning and arch support will help absorb some of the impact your lower legs are coping with.