The Importance of Wearing the Right Sports Shoes

Some of the benefits of wearing good sports shoes include less aerodynamic resistance, while having more balance, grip, and flexibility. It's not just about better performance, it's also about guaranteeing safety.

Most people wrongly believe that sports shoes are all about comfort while training. It’s really a type of sports technology tool that considers specific factors for a specific activity. Shoes not only optimize performance but also guarantee safety and help to prevent injuries.

A good base for the body

Most of the time we are supporting our own weight on our feet. Thus, good sports shoes will help us perform this basic activity in a way that we can transfer it into a good sports performance.

In fact, each sport has their own type of sports shoes in order to practice it correctly and optimally. This is all based on biomechanics, considering kinetics, surface, and other characteristics unique to each sport. All of these details are taken into account when developing a model for sports shoes.

Of course, the main objective of them all is to always provide flexibility, shock absorption, and grip. These goals are unique for each type of activity that these sports shoes will undergo. The idea is to be able to move accordingly and without losing control.

Factors that sports shoe designers consider

• Surface: the shoe shouldn’t inhibit the movements or reduce the wearer’s control. For example, if the sport is performed on wooden floors, the grip is fundamental. While on asphalt the shoe doesn’t have to have as much grip.
• Sports discipline: each discipline has a specific dynamic that the shoes should correspond to. Football shoes have rubber or metal studs for a good grip on grass, and baseball shoes must respond well to dirt.
• The shape of the foot: among the different types of feet there are high arched, flat and wide. Aside from the sport or activity, the athlete’s physique needs to be considered.
• Weight: athletes develop a specific weight and physique within a range according to the discipline they practice. These factors are taken into account when designing sports shoes, along with aerodynamics.

Foot morphology

Scientists have classified athletes according to the way they step: pronation, supination, and neutral.

• Pronation: this happens when we push the feet inwards when walking
• Supination: this is when we push the feet outwards when we walk.
• Neutral: is when the stress of the foot is linear and centered.

This classification is important because it shows where the foot undergoes the most stress. This stress is mostly present when we are gathering the impulse to move us forward when walking, running, or jumping. Professional athletes choose their sports shoes depending on this specific classification.

The importance of sports shoes

One of the main principles of sports is the flexibility of an athlete. Thus the materials that the sports shoes are made of, tend to have certain stretching abilities. In turn, this allows for movements that are more natural, aerodynamic, and comfortable.

Sports shoes are not just for comfort, they help reduce the risk of injuries. They grip the floor to protect certain parts of the foot. For example, basketball shoes tend to look more like boots that cover the ankles. This is because in this sport sudden stops and jumps are common, thus the ankles must be protected.

Shock resistance is also an important factor for consideration when designing sports shoes. They help athletes land their jumps with less risk of hurting their joints.

Prevented injuries

Although in the sports world it’s practically impossible to avoid injuries completely, sports shoes help reduce the risk of certain injuries. Sprains, tendinitis, and dislocations are directly related to using the incorrect shoes for the activity. Currently, athletes suffer these ailments less frequently thanks to sports technologies.

For example, a specific material has been implemented in various types of sports shoes in the last few years to reduce the proliferation of athlete’s foot. This material stopped the growth of the fungus that has caused athlete’s foot in the past.

As technologies advance with time, we can enjoy better shoes with better materials and designs. Choosing the right shoes for your sport is imperative to improving performance and reducing the risk of injuries.