The best walking shoes pair style, comfort and support. Feet can take a beating during a long workday, particularly in occupations requiring a lot of standing and walking. A good pair of walking shoes can provide comfort, support and stability at work and while exercising. Many fitness-oriented walking shoes combine fitness features with comfort and style and are available in neutral colors, making them ideal for work. Some classic work shoes also have many of the features one might expect to find in a walking shoe. These include cushioning, control, durability and good traction that provide comfort and make walking enjoyable while on the job. Finding Your Fit The American Council on Exercise recommends buying shoes that match your foot type when investing in any type of athletic shoe, whether the shoes are for walking, running, tennis or other specific activities. Some sneakers have more shock absorption to improve comfort for walkers with higher arches or for workers who must stand for long parts of the day.

People with lower arches or flat feet may need less cushioning but more support in the middle of the foot. A competent sales person can help review the different types of walking shoes available and help you select the best fit based on the structure of your foot. Cushioning The American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society (AOFAS) recommends a lightweight walking shoe with extra shock absorption provided in the heel and around the metatarsal, or ball of the foot. nike shoes for less than 50This cushioning helps prevent pain from developing in the feet or reduces pain from conditions including plantar fasciitis. nike track shoes mensExtra shock absorption also helps reduce burning and tenderness along the ball of the foot. knitted running shoes

Choose a shoe that is immediately comfortable when you try it on for the best results. There should be no need for a "break-in" period. Soles The AOFAS suggests investing in walking shoes with a sole that is rounded slightly or models with a rocker bottom to facilitate the natural rolling motion of the foot while walking. Rounded and rocker bottom walking shoes allow your body's weight to shift more easily from heel to toe while walking and minimize the forces exerted on your feet. best handmade running shoesA study commissioned by the American Council on Exercise found that this type of shoe also may reduce knee pain from osteoarthritis, which can encourage people to walk more while at work and thereby improve their fitness level.buy wedges shoes online india Stability A stable shoe is important when walking at work. adidas cheap shoes uk

The American Council on Exercise recommends grabbing the shoe at the front and heel and bending it from front to back to test for stability. Check to see whether the shoe bends near the front, or ball of the foot, where your foot would naturally flex. A stable shoe also should twist only slightly when held at each end and twisted. Too much flexibility in a walking shoe is a sign that the shoe will not provide sufficient support. References Health: The Best Sneakers for Walking CBS News NY: Do Round-Soled Sneakers Actually Help Your Workout? American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society: How to Select the Right Athletic Shoes Photo Credits Hemera Technologies/PhotoObjects.net/Getty Images Suggest an Article Correction The file you are looking for no longer exists. Please use the menu on the right to navigate to the section or document you're looking for. Gel Ease In-Shoe Forefoot Relief Pad One Size (Pair) GelX Gel Metatarsal Strap (uncovered) GelX Gel Metatarsal Strap (Covered)

Softmoves Adhesive Ball Of Foot Gel Pads (Pack Of 2) Gelx Double Bunion Metatarsal Sleeve Gelx Thin Forefoot Cushion (1) GelX All Gel Metatarsal Pad with Toe Loop (1) GelX Gel Forefoot Protector (2) Gelx Gel Forefoot Pad Slimfit (covered) Tulis Gel Metatarsal Cushions (One Size Fits All) Pure Gel Ball Of Foot Cushion (Pair)Selecting and Fitting a Walking Shoe Walking shoes are the foundation for a solid program of healthy fitness walking. You must always keep in mind that fit comes first. A shoe must fit the shape and design of your foot before you can wear it comfortably or use if for your sport. Below, we'll take a look at fit and function. Factors To Consider When Selecting A Shoe 1.  Shoes For Walking. Plan to select a shoe specific for walking. Do not use your tennis shoe or your aerobics shoe. A running shoe can be just fine, but if you are a runner, you may want to use your running shoe only for running. Get a sports specific shoe for each sport you participate in.

2. Specialty Shoe Store. You are often going to have the best luck at a store that specializes in athletic shoes and has a good reputation in your community. If you are a runner, make certain to ask local runners clubs and runners that you know where they recommend you purchase your shoes. You might also call the office of a local sports podiatrist for suggestions. If you go to a store that purports to specialize in comfort for walkers or in walking specifically, be careful not to come away with a bill of hundreds of dollars for over-the-counter inserts, cushions, non-custom “orthotics” and so on. A good pair of shoes and a graduated program can do wonders to prevent an injury and save you significant pain and money. 3. Bring Useful information to the store. What injuries have you had in the past and what if anything is your current problem? Bring your old shoes to the store. Which shoes have been successfully used in the past and which ones caused problems? What is your general foot type and foot shape?

How have previous shoe models worn? 4. Have Your Feet Measured Each Time You Purchase Shoes. As you age, you'll find that your foot size may gradually change also. Each manufacturer often changes where their shoes are made and the last that the shoe is made will vary from one manufacturer to another. The measurements should include sitting, standing and heel to toe, heel to ball and width. In spite of obtaining a number from the Brannock measuring device, you'll still have to actually fit the shoe to your foot. The measurement itself is only a general guide. Make sure the shoe fits and that it feels comfortable. 5. Wear Socks You Plan To Use And Don't Forget Your Orthotics. If you wear an insert, an orthotic or an orthotic with a flat insert underneath it, bring these along to the shoe store. And be sure to wear the same type of sock when you are fitted for your shoe as you will wear when participating in your sport. 6. You need a slightly longer shoe than for dress.

ThA shoe a ½ size longer than usual may be just fine to accommodate the expansion that occurs as you walk for fitness. The toe box should have adequate room for your toes. The shoe should bend at the ball of your foot where your toes actually bend. If the heel to ball fit is off, then the break of the shoe will not match your foot and abnormal forces will develop in your foot and in the shoe. The heel should be stable and not move in and out of the shoe. Wear the shoe for at least 10 minutes in the store, and if allowed do a brief short jog outside of the store to see how it feels. 7. Check the shoe for defects. Examine the exterior of the shoe for tears, improper stitching and other blemishes and defects. Place the shoes on a level counter and make sure the shoes line up evenly, stable, that the heel is straight, and there are no obvious defects. 8. Check the wear of your shoes regularly. Make sure you examine and replace your shoes regularly. Most running shoes last for between 350 miles and 500 miles of running.

Walking shoes should likely be changed every 6 to 9 months. If you walk 4-5 miles or so a day this works out to be around 1,000 – 1,500 miles of walking. Checking and changing your shoes is one of the best ways to avoid the doctor's office. With a careful training schedule that avoids over training and doing too much, too soon, too quickly and too often, you can reduce your risk of injury markedly. Be sure to check all aspects of your shoe for wear. Make sure the outsole is not worn through. Make sure that the heel counter is not tilted in or out. Check for holes worn by the pressure of your toes. 9. Don't wear a new shoe for a long walk. When you go to do that three day 60 mile charity walk, bring your old friends along. Wear shoes and socks that you've broken in thoroughly. 10. Select appropriate socks. Cotton socks are available everywhere, but are not often appropriate for your sports activity. The best sock is often one made of synthetic fibers that wick moisture away from your feet.

Check Out Your Old Shoes Examine the soles of your shoes. Note where wear has occurred. Most people seem to be amazed that their shoes wear at the rear outer corner. Most rearfoot strikers will wear at this part of the shoe. The reason for this, which someday, somewhere a funded study will prove, is that for most heel strikers it is the point of first contact of the shoe with the ground. Most people walk and run with their feet slightly rotated from center. Runners, however, also have what is called a narrow base of gait. base of gait means that the feet contact close to the midline of your body. This creates additional varus (tilting in) of the limb. This results, for the rearfoot striker, in the first point hitting the ground being the outer corner of your shoe. Forefoot wear may point to an individual who is a sprinter, runs fast, contacts the ground with the forefoot first or all of the above. Uneven forefoot wear may show where one metatarsal is plantar flexed relative to the others or where one metatarsal may be longer than the others.

In the presence of significant forefoot wear, you are at risk of stress fractures. Next put your shoes on the table and look from the back of the shoe to the heel. If your the counter of your shoe is tilted in or bulges over the inner part of your shoe, you might be one who excessively pronates. If this is so, you may want to look for a shoe with more stability or replace your shoe a bit sooner next time. If your shoe tilts to the outside, you may have a high arched foot. This in some cases can lead to ankle sprains and also increased transmission of forces to the leg and back. Sometimes individuals with this type of foot may have lateral knee pain, low back pain and outer leg pain. It will probably be important to make sure that your shoe has a fair amount of shock absorption and is not excessively controlling. Looking at the top of your shoe, you should note if you can see the outline of your toes in the upper or either your large or small toe on either side. If you do and have discomfort in these areas or have had "black toe" you should consider wider or longer shoes or both wider and longer

If you have a flexible and pronated foot, you might do better with a board lasted shoe. But looking for a good counter and a sole that is rigid until the point where your toes attach is an easier empirical way to find a good shoe. This offers resistance to torsion and inhibits pronation. Slip lasted shoes are frequently good for high arched feet. Combination lasted shoes are supposed to offer the best of both worlds: stability in the rearfoot and flexibility in the forefoot. Go to a shoe store that has a good reputation. Make sure you try on both shoes. You should also keep the shoe on your foot for about 10 minutes to make sure that it remains comfortable. Make sure that nothing pinches and that you like the feel of the shoe and your stride. Once you have purchased a new and comfortable shoe, don't put them to the test with a 5 hour long walk. Go easily and short distances only for the first 75 miles you spend in the shoe. Do not ever wear a brand new shoe in a 3 day or even an all day walking event.