Athletes Footwear

Another way to test for motion control is to grab the front of the shoe with one hand and the back of the shoe with the second hand and twist the shoe. The shoe should not deform with the twisting motion. The final test to determine the amount of motion in the shoe is to bend the front and back of the shoe together like a book. The bend of the shoe should be at the ball of the foot where the foot pushes off the ground during activity and should not bend in the middle of the shoe.
2. Cushion shoes: This type of shoe is best for patients with excessive supination or a high arched rigid foot. Cushioned shoes decrease pressure on the feet by absorbing forces transmitted from the ground while running. The outline and shape on the bottom of cushion shoes tend to curve at the front of the foot with extra padding at the front and middle of the shoe. Additionally, cushion shoes tend to have an hourglass shape when looking at the sole where the middle part of the sole is narrower than the front or back. Compared to motion control shoes, it is easier to twist a cushion shoe. Additionally, when bending the front and back of a cushion shoe together like a book, the bend is also at the ball of the foot, but the amount bend is greater and easier to perform than a motion control shoe.