Buying
Basketball Shoes
"Foot
Fitness for Life"
The American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) Guide to Keeping
Your Feet Young and Healthy
The American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) produced this guide to
help you determine the right shoe for you, the one that will help you
enjoy sports and lessen your chance of injury. The guide discusses what
you should look for in sports specific shoes, features in construction
that provide comfort and prevent injuries, how to obtain a proper shoefit
and shoe adjustments that can be made to treat foot problems.
Know
Your Sports Shoes
If you play a sport three or more times per week, a sport-specific shoe
may be necessary. Remember that after 300-500 miles or running or 300
hours of aerobic activity, the cushioning material in the shoe is usually
worn down and it's time to toss the shoes.
Choices, choices . . .
The fitness boom of the last 25 years led to an explosion in the
manufacture of sports shoes. The sports shoe consumer of the 1960s only
had to make one choice -- the all-purpose sneaker. Today's consumer must
choose from among hundreds of brands and styles of athletic shoes designed
for every sport and activity.
You may feel overwhelmed by the choices available to you, particularly
since the athletic footwear industry introduces more technologically
sophisticated shoes with new designs and features every year. Slick ads
and television commercials tout these features, but offer little in the
way of advice in selecting the shoes that match your feet. One brand does
not meet the needs of everyone and the latest innovation or most expensive
shoe with all the features may not be your best choice.
Basketball Shoes
If basketball is your sport, choose a shoe with a thick, stiff sole. This
gives extra stability when running on the court. A high-top shoe provides
support when landing from a jump and helps prevent ankle sprains.
AND obviously, buy basketball shoes which are designed especially for
basketball.)
Shoe fit
The best designed shoes in the world will not do their job if they do not
fit properly. You can avoid foot problems by finding a shoe store that
employs a pedorthist or professional shoe fitter who knows about the
different shapes and styles of shoes. Or, you can become an informed
consumer by following these guidelines:
-
Don't go just by size.
Have your feet measured
-
Visit the shoe store at
the end of a workout when your feet are largest
-
Wear the sock you
normally wear when working out (2 pair of socks are recommended when
playing/practicing hard)
-
Fit the shoe to the
largest foot
-
Make sure the shoe
provides at least one thumb's breadth of space from the longest toe to
the end of the toe box.
-
If you have bunions or
hammertoes, find a shoe with a wide toe box. You should be able to
fully extend your toes when you're standing and shoes should be
comfortable from the moment you put them on. They will not stretch
out. Women who have big or wide feet should consider buying men's or
boys' shoes which are cut wider for the same length.
If
you are interested in any of the headings
below
click here to go to
the AOFSA web site
where
there is more data similar to above.
Running
Shoes
Walking
Shoes
Aerobic Shoes
Tennis Shoes
Cross Trainers
Design Features
When Foot Problems Develop
Custom Arch Supports
Page's content from:
http://www.aofas.org/ffl_sportsshoes.asp
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