Shoe Analysis - Fitting a Shoe
Original Editor - User Name
Top Contributors - Wanda van Niekerk, Kim Jackson, Jess Bell and Tarina van der Stockt
Introduction[edit | edit source]
Running for health has lead to a growing running shoe market worldwide. Over the the past 50 years running shoes designs have changed significantly. The purchase of a running shoe can be overwhelming for a runner with the market full of shoes of different weights, designs, features and materials and prices. Often the consumer is dependent on the advice of a salesperson to select the correct shoe. The challenge for clinicians treating runners is to stay informed of the continuous changes and updates in footwear as well as the forever changing scientific landscape of shoe benefits and risks to help runners make informed decisions.[1]
Finding the Right Fit[edit | edit source]
Physiotherapists working with runners need to be knowledgeable about running shoes and need to be accurate and thorough in the fitting of running shoes. Furthermore, it is important to provide runners with sound advice about their running shoes.[2] For a quick review, read this page: Basic Anatomy of a Running Shoe
Physiotherapists can advise on shoes based on[2]:
- The foot size of the runner
- What distance do they run/ mileage?
- Running mechanics
- History of previous injuries or current injuries
The goal is to be able to guide runners to a type of shoe that suits their abilities and needs.[2] To be able to do that, it is important to:
- Understand your runner
- Read more: An Introduction to Understanding Your Runner
- Be aware of the aims of the runner
- Read more: Subjective Assessment of a Runner
- Know the current running trends of the runner as well as their running aspirations or goals
It is important to determine whether[2]:
- The runner needs one pair of shoes that can be versatile
- e.g. running on road and trail
- Are different shoes necessary
- Will the shoe selection change over time as the runner's aims and goals change, for example:
- beginner runner wanting to do longer distances
- road runner wanting to do more trail running
- trail runner wanting to run on more challenging and technical trails
Understanding your runner and their goals are important to advise on shoe selection!
Subjective and objective assessment of the runner is NB
Have a good understanding of training, musculoskeletal screening (??)
Things(?) that will impact shoe selection
Type of running
Distance
Terrain
Runner’s aims
Type of running – road vs trail, track running
Multiterrain shoe vs road running shoe vs trail shoe
Distance will also impact shoe selection
Their aims
Assessment of a runner’s shoes
Ask runner to bring old and worn running shoes to physio session
Look at all the different parts of the shoe – Basic Anatomy of a Running Shoe
Always better to analyse a runner’s older shoes than brand new ones
Blog: https://www.runstore.co.za/its-not-always-a-shoe-fault/
Few common issues found in running shoes that is not always the product’s fault:
Toe lift
Running shoe upper with a hole in the area of the big toe
Contributing factors:
Windlass mechanism of the foot – tightness of plantar fascia (and possibly Achilles and calf muscles) causes big toe to lift and thus making contact with the upper of the shoe
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1p-d6E9PGhoiIxQ0nkkArFGGZQWcu__-U/view
Shape of shoe
Volume of upper around toe box
Flexibility of the shoe
Combination of shoe materials
Ankle and foot mobilisation, myofascial release of plantar fascia and surrounding areas could reduce toe lift incidences
Blog: https://www.runstore.co.za/its-not-always-a-shoe-fault/
Heel Collar Scuffing
Contributing factors:
Shoelaces not tied correctly
Refer to lacing techniques
Narrow base of running gait due to weakness or lack of range of motion in hips and glutes – this means that the opposite foot may strike the upper collar causing excessive wearing
Shoelaces not tied properly adds to this as the collar will be more open and exposed
Runners with low flat arches or wider feet may also experience this scuffing around the heel collar
Heel drag
On the outside of the heel of the sole of the shoe excessive wear will be visible. This is often caused by the gluteal muscles not firing properly or leg length discrepancies, pelvic tilt or scoliosis. In the image on the right – this runner was battling with a hamstring injury and see the visible differences between left and right.
Splitting sides
Contributing factors:
Shoe too wide
Shoe too narrow
Incorrect shoe type eg. Neutral runner running in a stability shoe
Lack of cleaning or incorrect cleaning of shoes – especially trail shoes (dirt between mesh layers can act as sandpaper and damage the upper of the shoe)
Internal heel wear
Contributing factors
Shoelaces not tied correctly
Runner with a Haglund’s deformity
Shape of the conforming heel cup to the shape of the heel – if this does not match excessive wear is possible
Toe bumper coming loose
Incorrect shoe care (washing machine, tumble dryer)
Stress or trauma to area – trail running in tricky terrain
Washing and maintaining shoes
Never wash shoes in washing machine
Never artificially dry shoes
Do not leave shoes in car in the heat – this softens the foam and influences the life span of the shoe
Do not leave shoes in the sun to dry
Be careful with common cleaning solvents
For the complete blog read here: https://www.runstore.co.za/its-not-always-a-shoe-fault/
Assessing a runner’s shoe
Mileage on the shoe
The type of shoe
Consider the cushioning and heel to toe drop of the shoe
Apps available that can provide this information
Assess the wear on the shoe
Always compare left to right
Try and be methodical i.e start from the front, laces, different angles, side view and back view
Look at wear on shoe on uppers but also underneath!
Older more worn running shoes will provide more information
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Resources[edit | edit source]
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