Chiropractors, podiatrists, estheticians and our mothers have all warned us to wear sensible shoes, but we all know that sensibility sometimes gets tossed out the window and repeatedly run over by an 18 wheeler when it comes to making a fashion statement. How else (besides a masochistic fetish) can you possibly explain the existence of stiletto heels? For the purposes of this article we will take a look at running shoes in terms of popularity and then practicality.

Popularity

A quick stroll down Queen Street West in downtown Toronto supplies all the answers. Stores that consider themselves the arbiters of style are stocking retro runners. Pumas, Adidas, NM-70s, Converse all-stars, Ben Shermans and Nikes are all prominently on display. Running shoes with unique color combinations that would make an interior decorator faint somehow seem to work when transplanted to footwear. Even wrestling and motor cross shoes/boots are starting to grace the feet of self-proclaimed hipsters. According to Mike Dalla-Giustina, the manager of Groovy on Queen: “The trend is definitely towards old school running shoes.” Pumas that used to cost $60 a few years back now retail for double that in some stores. Alternatively, if you’re cost conscious you could seek out some second hand stores to look for running shoes that truly are retro in every sense of the word.

These days Adidas seems to make a shoe for every activity known to humankind. An example is the Mei, which is marketed as a yoga shoe. The wrestling shoe is also very popular.

Practicality

The foot is a very complex structure that is made up of 26 bones, thirty-three joints, 107 ligaments, and 19 muscles and tendons. Because of the foot’s complex nature the following questions arise: Should you purchase different shoes for different activities? Or will cross-trainers do the job for all forms of exercise? According to Dr. Mark Halpern, a chiropractor who specializes in orthotics, the answers to these questions are a vehement “yes” to the first, and an impassioned “no” to the second.

Different physical activities require vastly different ranges of motion of the foot. Sports like tennis, squash and basketball call for the foot to move side to side in a lateral motion. While running and certain types of aerobics such as step class require the foot to move linearly. The idea of the cross-trainer (thought up by some very smart marketing people at Nike as a one-stop running shoe that is sufficient for all types of exercise) is a fallacy because cross-trainers don’t offer both types of support.

According to most experts, walking and running shoes should be replaced much more often than you think. Running shoes should be changed every 350 - 500 miles. Walking shoes are subject to somewhat less stress then running shoes, but they should be changed every 6 to 9 months. The best shoes on the market are New Balance and Asics with heel control - a function that causes the running shoe to stiffen so the heel won’t roll over. If a shoe has heel control, it can be, if necessary, used for all types of exercise.

Studies show that close to 80% of the general population have foot dysfunctions, and 90% of those people are over pronators. Over pronation means the foot rolls in too much and in essence makes it too soft and cushiony. A custom fit orthotic, a corrective device fit to give the person the proper arch for their particular foot, can remedy the problem. Here’s how it works: An imprint of the foot is taken using a material called bio-foam and inserted as an insole in the running shoe. The orthotic reduces the rolling inward of the foot and therefore diminishes wear and tear on the foot, ankle, knee, hip and spine. According to Dr. Halpern, “the use of orthotics in your running shoes is similar in nature to a person who wears prescription eyeglasses to correct their eyesight. A good portion of people in our society that need hip and knee replacements could have been prevented if they had their feet checked as a young adult.”