Article updated on February 18, 2020.
I worked in a store where they sold running shoes for a few years. I would run people there to see if they were pronating. Looking back, I question this practice.
What is pronation?
Pronation is the movement of the foot on the ground when it is put on weight. Basically, when you run, the following sequence will usually occur:
- The outside edge of your foot will touch the ground first;
- Then your foot will rotate so that the inside edge of your foot (under your big toe) touches the ground);
- Eventually your arch will sag to absorb the impact.
Note that sagging arch itself is not a problem, but rather one of the body's ways of absorbing impact.
Indeed, a study carried out on soldiers gave the following results:
On the one hand, 408 men and 314 women who are assigned a shoe according to the height of their pronation level. On the other hand, 432 men and 257 women who are all given the same type of shoes, ie shoes for a “normal” arch. What was the result? Virtually no difference in the incidence of injuries. Moreover, the results of this study have been repeated in further studies later.
Should you change your shoes according to your foot type?
So what do we do?
Above all, we must not panic.
In shoes, I would say that a basic rule is: "if it's not broken, don't fix it". So if you are happy and uninjured with your current shoes, stick with these shoes even though scientifically they are no better than others.
It's often the changes that make you hurt yourself. On the other hand, if you are continually injured, or if you start to run, I strongly suggest you lower shoes, which will allow you to have a more natural stride!
very good post Daniel,
4 similar studies totaling more than 7000 military or recreational runners arrive at the same conclusion… Let's change our practices… and our shoes!
The thank you box
Me, who told myself that I didn't know much about this "science" of shoes, I was going to take the same pair as the ones I use now since it was fine! Right in the mile!