The wonderful benefits of walking with the right-fitting shoes

Walking is one of the simplest forms of exercise, but you shouldn’t discredit it as it does provide a multitude of health benefits; whether it’s on a treadmill or outdoors, it doesn’t matter – as long as you have the right pair of shoes.

If you start bringing walking into your exercise routine, then you want to make sure you have a pair of good walking shoes to maximize comfort and protection for your feet.  In this blog, we’ll look at the benefits of walking, the importance of choosing the correct shoes, and the various types of shoes available for different foot problems.

The Benefits of Walking Daily or at Least 3 Times a Week

Walking daily or at least 3 times a week can provide several health benefits, including:

• Improved cardiovascular health
• Better weight management
• Increased muscle strength and flexibility
• Improved mood and reduced stress levels
• Increased energy levels and better sleep quality

Health benefits of wearing the right shoes for walking

• Reduced risk of injury
• Better balance
• Reduced pain & discomfort
• Improved circulation
• Improved posture & gait
• Less knee pain

Should Walking Shoes be One Size Bigger?

It’s a common misconception that walking shoes should be one size bigger than your regular shoes.  Walking shoes should fit comfortably, with enough room to wiggle your toes, but not too loose that your feet slide around inside the shoe.

How to Buy the Correct Shoes for Physical Activity

When buying shoes for physical activity, it’s important to consider several factors, including:

• Arch support – make sure they provide adequate support for your foot’s arch.
• Cushioning – look for good shock absorption to protect your feet and joints.
• Breathability – go with good ventilation to prevent sweating and bacteria growth.

Fit – ensure the shoes fit well and feel comfortable when walking around.

Problems with Feet and Solution Shoes

With problem feet, you want to invest in the right supportive shoes.

1) Plantar Fasciitis–

shoes with good arch support and cushioning can help relieve the pain associated with plantar fasciitis. Some shoe options worth considering are:

• Brooks Women’s Ghost 14 Neutral Running Shoe
  
  Combine both comfort and style in one. However, watch for wriggle room if you have slim and narrow feet.
•  ASICS Men’s Gel-Kayano 26 Running Shoes
  
  The ASICS Gel-Kayano are some of the lightest sneakers on the market, with excellent circulation and durable foam padding.  However, one detraction is the soles can wear fairly quickly.

2) Flat Feet and Overpronation (feet roll inwards when walking) –

To counteract overpronation, look for shoes with good arch support and motion control features, like the following:

• New Balance Men’s 940 V4 Running Shoe
  
  These shoes offer style, comfort, class, and excellent support.  Although, the mesh on top of the shoe isn’t of the highest quality, which makes it a little less resistant to wear and tear.
• Brooks Women’s Adrenaline GTS 21 Running Shoe
  
  These shoes offer a lot of cushioning. However, they may not offer as much support as the Brooks Ghost, which look to be firmer and stiffer.

3) High Arches – go for shoes with good cushioning that can help relieve the pressure on the arch. If you have high arches look at the following options, which provide extra cushioning to help absorb shock and reduce pressure on your arch.

• Brooks Men’s Glycerin 19 Neutral Running Shoe
  
  Are good for both indoor and outdoor activities. The shoes are pretty bland as far as aesthetics are concerned, so you might end up preferring other Brooks designs over these.
• Brooks Women’s Glycerin 20 Neutral Running Shoe
  If you are on your feet all day then you are going to find these very comfortable because they go for a lot of padding, but if you are after a tighter fit or more responsiveness then it might not be ideal.

4) Wide Feet – you need a wide or extra-wide toe box to accommodate your feet’s shape. These shoe options provide ample room in the toe box to provide a comfortable and supportive fit:

• New Balance Men’s 928 V3 Lace-up Walking Shoe
  
  Good for those who prefer a simple shoe that isn’t very flashy and is comfortable to wear. But not only are these shoes comfortable to wear, but they’re designed to accommodate different feet types. If you have wider feet or overpronation these shoes are a perfect match, as they are wider on the inside than most competitors.
• New Balance Women’s 928 V3 Lace-up Walking Shoe

5) Bunions –

Are large protrusions of the big toe joint. Look for a wide or extra-wide toe box and good cushioning, which can help alleviate the pain associated with bunions. Some of the best walking shoes to help with this are:

• Brooks Men’s Ghost 15 Neutral Running Shoe
  
  One of the most important features is the wiggle room in the front part of the shoe, which can be especially helpful for people with bunions or those recovering from toe-related issues.
• ASICS Women’s Gel-Kayano 27 Running Shoes

Bunions tend to be more common among women than men. ASICS’s Gel-Kayano have both the comfort and class factor and offers good foot support, especially around the heels and instep. A downside is that the mesh on the shoe tends to tarnish rather easily.

6) Shin Splints – look for good shock absorption and cushioning that can help reduce the risk of developing shin splints.

Brooks, ASICS, and New Balance are all recommended for problem feet because these brands have a reputation and focus on designing shoes that provide comfort, support, and protection for your feet. They focus on spending time, money, and effort into researching and developing shoes.

We should finish by saying that one of the very best and cheapest purchases you can make, which is great for all feet, is a hard spikey ball. These balls are great to use for rolling your foot over and releasing different pressure points on the sole of your foot.

What Shoes Do Most Podiatrists Recommend?

Most podiatrists recommend shoes with good arch support, cushioning, and a comfortable fit. Brands such as those already introduced as New Balance, Brooks, and ASICS are all popular among podiatrists.

Overall Verdict

Walking is a great form of exercise that provides numerous health benefits. If you want to ensure maximum comfort, putting a bit of effort into finding the right pair of shoes will go a long way.