BUYING RUNNING SHOES

(Keywords: buying running shoes, buying walking shoes, buying shoe, buying shoes, tips for buying shoes )

To walk or run, you need a decent pair of shoes. Ones that fit nicely and aren't going to give you foot and ankle pain. Buying shoes is about improving your health, after all, not about numerous visits to the chiropractor for foot pain!

One size fits all? Nope!

One brand fits all when buying walking shoes? Unlikely!

Take your time when buying running shoes. Set aside a whole morning, and be pleased if you can do it in under two hours. Why? Because it's important, and many of the FOOT PAIN patients treated at the chiropractic coalface are simply a matter of getting them out of poorly-fitting shoes.

Did you know that right and left shoes only became available for the first time about a one hundred years ago? Before that your foot had to fit the shoe, not the shoe fit your foot! But now you have the choice... if you take the time. Otherwise, pain...

BUYING RUNNING SHOES

Tips for buying shoes

Rule 1: If when buyingh shoes they aren't immediately comfortable, discard them. Don't believe the rubbish about "they will stretch", "you'll wear them in" ... nonsense. If they aren't immediately comfortable, move on to the next pair, and maybe the next shop. Yes, it will take time to buy a decent, properly fitting pair of shoes that are not going to give you umpteen visits to the chiropractor or podiatrist. Or worst still, the orthopaedic surgeon, the man with the knife.

Rule 2: You find two or three shoes that are equally comfortable, or nearly equal, and your're having a hard time choosing. Put Shoe 1 on the right foot, and Shoe 2 on the left foot. Walk about, run, jump... which is more comfortable?

Now put Shoe 1 on the left foot, and Shoe 2 on the right foot. Again, walk, jump, bounce... which is better? Hopefully your right and left foot agree which pair of shoes are more suited to your feet.

Now repeat with Shoe 3.

Rule 3: Still in doubt? Spend the time, be patient, move on to the next store. You can always come back.

Rule 4: Finally, found the right pair? Run in them for a week or three, and if you're still convinced, go back to the shop and buy another pair and put them away. Try them on first, again, of course. Shoes manufactured on a Monday aren't always precisely the same as those made on Friday! You've just saved yourself 2-5 hours of time, because that's what it will take next year to find another comfortable pair of shoes.

The long and the short of buying shoe is to take your time, it's worth it. Don't have the time? Don't go shopping until you do.

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