by Rodney Favors

Created on: January 19, 2009

How To Choose The Best Aerobic Shoes

Aerobic exercise, while great for building your cardiovascular system, can be hard on your feet. Aerobic activities consist of quick lateral movements with lots of jumping and leaping which can have a very negative impact on your feet if you are not wearing the right shoes. Wearing the proper shoes will make your workout more effective with less irritation and discomfort. The right shoes will help you enjoy the activity and be more willing to stick with the program for maximum results.

So, how do decide on the right shoes? The first thing to remember is that all shoes are not created equal. Shoes designed for one exercise activity do not always offer the best support for a different activity. Running shoes, for example, are designed to provide stability in forward motion. If you try to do sideways aerobics movements in running shoes, you can wind up tripping over your own feet! It is recommended that you buy a pair of aerobic shoes and only wear them for aerobic activities. Although they can be expensive, shoes that are used only for aerobics and not worn as ever day shoes will last a long, long time. Also, when considering an exercise shoe, name brand shoes are usually worth the difference in price. They will offer more support and last longer than cheap generic shoes.

Aerobic shoes should be well fitted. Go shoe shopping in the afternoon when your feet are at their largest. Make sure to wear the same kind of socks that you will wear when exercising as the socks thickness will determine the fit of the shoe. Go to a reputable shoe store for fitting, you need to know what kind of shoe you need. You can always look for those shoes on sale later but you must know the right shoe to look for. Take an old pair of shoes with you, the wear and tear on an old pair of shoes will help the sales rep determine your foot and step type. You may need to shop several stores before finding a knowledgeable sales rep. Beware of the shoe rep that tries to sell you shoes without first considering your foot type.

Aerobic shoes should provide superior Shock absorption and cushioning. The pressure you place on your feet while doing aerobics is many times greater than when your walking. Impact forces from aerobics can reach up to six times the force of gravity. This impact is transmitted to each of the 26 bones in the foot. Because of the many side-to-side motions used in aerobics, shoes need an arch design that will counteract these movements.

It takes a little time to find a pair of quality aerobics shoes that fit your individual needs and tastes. However, a little time spent right in the beginning will help prevent losing a lot of time due to injury.

The author maintains www.advanced-health.com the <a href="http://www.advanced-health.com">Health and Fitness Directory</a>. You can visit his site to find a plethora of valuable health and fitness information. Aerobics enthusiasts will find the <a href="http://www.advanced-health.com/aerobics.html">Aerobics Exercise</a> page particularly helpful.

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