Whether you are a professional or non-professional athlete, it is essential to have proper sneakers. To further investigate this issue, we spoke with Dr. Kamran Azma, a physiotherapist and associate professor at the university.
This difference is mainly due to the way these shoes are made, but the difference between a shoe designed and made for a particular sport and a regular shoe is related not only to the way it is made, but also to the performance of the sneaker.
For example, a shoe designed for running is very different from a shoe for wrestling, and in fact the ultimate goal in designing sports shoes is that the foot and the shoe can function properly at the same time, but today customer-friendly models in sports shoes It matters as much as their performance.
Recommending a particular type of shoe to everyone is an unprofessional act. But given that running is an activity that exists in almost all sports and is also part of the activities that strongly depend on the feet.
The standards for running shoes are commonly used for other sports with modifications, such as tennis, basketball, and other sports that are played on the court, usually with many sudden changes of course. This is why sneakers are suitable for this type of sport that provide a good support in the middle and lateral areas of the front of the foot.
In tennis, the front of the foot is stretched a lot on the ground, so in the design and production of tennis shoes, more thickness is considered in the area of the big toe.
Usually all sneaker standards start with the size of the shoe. In fact, the first step in checking the performance of a shoe is the right size for the foot.
No matter how well-made the shoe is, it will not work well if it is not the size of the foot.
Not always! Unfortunately, choosing the right size is difficult because sneaker manufacturers do not use the same standard for length and width and overall shoe size. There is a difference in the size standard between different companies, between different models of a company and even between a similar model produced by different companies. They offer, while many companies today offer shoes of a certain size with different widths to the customer.
The distance between the heel to the toe is important. In a suitable sneaker in terms of size, the distance between the longest toe and the end of the shoe should be 1.2 to 1.5 cm. The next item is the width of the foot, which is measured at the toe. The width of a suitable shoe should not be so small that the protrusion of the foot is visible from the sides of the shoe, nor so large that the shoe can be folded from side to side.
Another important point is that although the width of the foot should be measured in order for the shoe size to be appropriate, it is also important to know the volume of the foot. Two different legs may be the same in width but different in volume.
The thickness of the foot or the amount of space that the foot occupies inside the shoe is one of the important factors in the appropriate size of the shoe. However, it is very difficult for some people to find the right shoe in terms of size.
The next point is to know the details of how sneakers work and its ability to improve foot function or prevent injuries. Guide to choosing the right shoes in fact, when all the sizes are determined, the shape of the shoes should be considered.
The shape of the shoe determines the final shape of the shoe. Although this seems very obvious and simple, the importance of matching the shoe with the foot in terms of shape and form is often overlooked. In fact, even if the shoe size is right, the foot performance will not be optimal if the shape is inappropriate.
When buying, you should also pay attention to the insole inside the shoe. Detachable insoles have become very popular among shoe manufacturers because these insoles are easily replaceable. This type of insole can also be used as a tool to adjust the size of the shoe. Using the insole inside the shoe, in addition to softening the shoe, also fills the extra space that makes the shoe open.
Even corrections to reduce foot pressure can be done with these insoles. Controlled.
Hold the sneaker in your hand and bend the shoe while holding the heel and front of the shoe in place. The shoe should bend exactly where the foot bends, ie from the front, and if the shoe is bent in the middle, the construction of the shoe is poor, and its purchase is not recommended.
Stability along with impact are criteria that not only prevent injury, but also provide the conditions for optimal foot performance. To understand whether a shoe has the characteristic of stability or not, the heel edges are sufficient. Press. Stable shoes are resistant to this compression. You can also take the shoe from the heel and toe area and try to twist it.
Shoes that are resistant to torsion are resistant to this condition; If flexible shoes are easily twisted. If the material used in the sneakers is too soft, the inward twisting of the foot will be more than normal when the heel hits the ground.
Another thing to consider is the softness and impact of the shoes. Of course, too much softness is also dangerous and increases the risk of injury. Soft materials easily deform, resulting in extra and unnecessary movements in the foot. If the material used in the shoe is too soft, the foot will twist inward more than normal when the heel hits the ground, which will reduce the efficiency of the foot and shoe.
Careful examination of the heel of the shoe is also essential. In this part, there are items that must be considered to achieve optimal foot performance, and care must be taken that the materials chosen to make the heel shock pad are neither too soft nor too stiff.
Although in the past sneakers with plastic soles were chosen as suitable shoes for most sports activities, but today, using state-of-the-art technology, specialized shoes are produced for each sport. One of the challenges for sports shoe manufacturers is that in most cases the shoes are not used in the specialized field in which they are designed.
Running shoes are the lightest and most shockproof type among other specialized shoes in terms of weight. These shoes are designed for linear activities and should not be used for other sports performed on sports fields.
There is nothing wrong with wearing sneakers for walking, but the opposite is not true. Sneakers designed for walking are almost similar to running shoes, except that they use more leather on the upper part, which increases its durability and weight.
Walking sneakers are designed to be used in everyday activities. During long walks, the feet need to be protected from environmental hazards, and the shoes used for this type of activity must not only meet this need, but also be very durable.
The soles of these shoes are usually made heavier and more durable and are often raised to a certain height to provide a better support for the ankle. It is better that these shoes and their seams are impermeable to water.
The last thing that needs to be mentioned is that the shoes should convey a good feeling to the feet. It is better to run a short distance with shoes before buying them. Properly covered, it will withstand a great deal of adverse conditions.
Dr. Kamran Azma
Specialist in physical medicine and rehabilitation
