MD Podiatrist Discusses Importance of Buying the

Right Athletic Shoe
 
Dan Michaels, DPM, specializes in podiatry and helping patients fix their feet. The most important purchase for any runner is the right athletic shoe, he said. “If you go play tennis, you don’t take a ping-pong paddle with you,” Dr. Michaels said. “You need the right equipment, and the main equipment you need to be concerned about with running are the shoes.” 
 
 
Before buying a shoe, Michaels said it’s important to find a store that specializes in athletic apparel and shoes, and take advice from a knowledgeable salesperson. Athletic shoes should be a half size or full size larger than your regular shoe size. There should be a thumb nail’s distance between the end of your big toe and the end of the shoe, and you can determine that once you are standing with the shoes on and laced up. “Athletic shoes are broken down into two categories: running shoes and training flats,” Michaels said. “A running shoe is best on a track or running outdoors. A training flat is better inside a gym for lateral or side-to-side movements on machines.”