What’s Your Foot Type?
Saturday, January 26th, 2008
Let the wet test show you:
You can go a long way toward discovering what you need in a shoe by looking at your feet. There are three basic foot types, each based on the height of your arches. The quickest and easiest way to determine your foot type is by taking the “wet test”. Here’s how it’s done:
1. Pour a thin payer of water into a shallow pan. An edged cookie sheet works best.
2. Wet just the sole of your foot.
3. Step onto a shopping bag or a blank piece of heavy paper.
4. Step off and look down. Observe the shape of your foot and match it with one of the foot types mentioned below. Although other variables (such as your weight, biomechanics, weekly mileage, and fit preference) come into play, knowing you foot type is the first step toward finding the best fit.
FLAT ARCH: Second one from the left. If you see almost your entire footprint, you have a flat arch, which means you are probably an overpronator. That is, a microseconf after footstrike, your arch collapse inward too much, resulting in excessive foot motion and increasing your risk of injuries. You need either stability shoes, which employ supportive midsole “posts” to reduce pronation and are best for mild to moderate overpronators, or motion-control shoes, which have firmer support devices and are best for severe overpronators, as well as tall, heavy (more than 185 pounds for men, 160 for women), or knock-kneed joggers or walkers.
NORMAL (MEDIUM) ARCH: Third from the left. If you see about half of your arch, you have the most common foot type and are likely a normal pronator. Contary to popular belief, pronation is a good thing. When the arch collapses and the ankle rolls inward, this “pronation” absorbs shock. As a normal pronator, you can wear just about any shoe, but may be best suited to a stability show that provides moderate arch support (or medial stability). Lightweight runners or walkers with normal arches may prefer neutral-cushioned shoes without any added support, or even a preformance-training shoe that offers some support but less heft for a faster feel.
HIGH ARCH: Farthest to the right. If you see just your heel, the ball of your foot, and a thin line on the outsdie of your foot, you have a high arch, the least common foot type. This means you are likely an underpronator, or supinator, which can result in too much shock traveling through you body, sinch you arch doesn’t collapse enough to absorb it. Underpronators are best suited to a neutral-cushion shoes because they need a softer midsole to encourage pronation. It’s vital that an underpronator’s shoes have no added stability devices to reduce or control pronation, the way a stability or motion control shoe would. (Source: Runner’s World 2007)
• Cool Shoe To Check Out:•
Ugg® Tess™
