Find out how footwear can affect your health and physical performance
Choosing the ideal shoe shouldn’t be based only on a selection of brands and prices. Before buying shoes, it is necessary to take into account the anatomical characteristics of each one and the type of exercise to be practiced.
“Feet and steps are not the same thing. The main types are the flat foot, which has a very low medial arch, characteristically more flexible and with a pronated axis; the cavus, which has a high medial arch, more rigid and with a pronated, supinated, and the neutral foot, which has a medial arch within normal limits, with a balanced axis,” says Dr. Alexandre Leme Godoy, orthopedic surgeon and associate professor in the Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology at the University of São Paulo.
avoiding injuries
Despite the anatomical differences between the feet, most shoes are made with only one profile in mind. However, Dr. Alexandre Leme Godoy points out that there are four essential points in tennis that must be respected in order to do so avoid injuries:
- The part of the shoe that touches the ground must be stiff or inflexible, while the interface between the foot and the shoe must be soft and shock absorbing;
- The anterior box, the region of the shoe that welcomes the toes, must be wide so as not to compress one toe against the other;
- The buttress, the region of the shoe that welcomes the heel, must be firm to provide stability to the ankle and rearfoot;
- There should be a 3-4cm height difference between the heel and the toe.
Advantages of the right choice
According to Dr. Alexandre Leme Godoy, the use of correct shoes can possibly improve the mechanical performance of a step and optimize the exchange of forces between the foot and the ground, but it does not correct a wrong step.
“The use of the ideal shoe improves the biomechanics of the gait, reduces the mechanical stress on the various anatomical structures of the foot, such as tendons, ligaments and bones, and reduces the risk of injury and foot pain and ankle,” he warns.
comfortable footwear
Considering these features, the next step is comfort. “People have different foot shapes and, since there is no one shoe made for each of them, the one you choose should be the most comfortable,” says Professor Júlio Cerca Serrão, coordinator of the Biomechanics laboratory at the School of Physical Education and of the Sports of the University of São Paulo. A researcher in the field of footwear biomechanics, Júlio Cerca Serrão warns: “No one should do physical activity with new shoes. You have to “soften” it. The more you use it, the more suitable it will be.”
change over time
Regarding the changing weather, research conducted by Júlio Cerca Serrão and his team reveals that, as a reference, a shoe should be discarded when it has traveled 1000 kilometres.
“However, people who use tennis for physical activitieseven if daily, it will hardly achieve this goal, but it serves us as a basis for understanding that it is not necessary to take turns or change shoes so quickly”. According to the professor, the shoes do not lose their characteristics and the cure only stops with washing guidelines .
Source: Terra
Ben Stock is a lifestyle journalist and author at Gossipify. He writes about topics such as health, wellness, travel, food and home decor. He provides practical advice and inspiration to improve well-being, keeps readers up to date with latest lifestyle news and trends, known for his engaging writing style, in-depth analysis and unique perspectives.
