Shoe fitting? Real or Hocus Pocus?

katjohn83

Someone recently told me to get fitted for some running shoes because my out side shin muscles begin to tighten as I run and it limits my running. I am 300 lbs and trying desperately to increase my exercise in my short 30 minute time limit.

Any way so my questions are:
1. Has anyone done this before?
2. Is it real or just a bunch of hocus pocus?
3. IF it is real is it worth it?
4. Speaking of worth it how much does it cost?
5. Who does it?
6. And finally after getting "fit" do I know what shoes to buy in the future when these wear out or do you have to get "fitted" every time.

Thanks in advance to the wonderful MFP family.

greypilgrimess

I'm not an expert by any means, but from my own experiences, having proper fitting shoes for running is pretty much essential, as incorrectly fitted shoes can be the cause of a number of injuries.

I got my shoes fitted at my local running store, they worked out whether I had a high arch, normal or flat foot, and gave me lots of advice about the fitting, how tight/loose it should feel, etc. It was completely free. I know a lot of specialist stores also have treadmills to test shoes properly, as far as I know they don't charge but don't quote me on that.

And yes, once you know what sort of shoes work best for you, you'll not likely need to be fitted anytime soon after that.

katjohn83

bump

Ascolti_la_musica

My husband had a pair of shoes made that way. He wore them every day for about ten years.

tadpole242

Someone recently told me to get fitted for some running shoes because my out side shin muscles begin to tighten as I run and it limits my running. I am 300 lbs and trying desperately to increase my exercise in my short 30 minute time limit.

Any way so my questions are:
1. Has anyone done this before?
2. Is it real or just a bunch of hocus pocus?
3. IF it is real is it worth it?
4. Speaking of worth it how much does it cost?
5. Who does it?
6. And finally after getting "fit" do I know what shoes to buy in the future when these wear out or do you have to get "fitted" every time.

Thanks in advance to the wonderful MFP family.

1 I have had it done every year or two
2 if you go to a running/sports shop, and you have a treadmill/video fitting, then it's real and makes a difference
3 Running shops do it for free
4 Free
5 a Trained member of staff
6 this is just my take , I've lost a fair amount of weight, so my running style and need change, as did my shoes, at 325lb I needed cushioning lot of it. Now 100+lb lighter I need some cushioning and more ankle support and control.
My running friends and I have an unwritten rule, buy one in the shop you got fitted in, and one from the net, you save money on-line, but without your support the shop will close. Two pairs of shoes will last 1000 miles (ish) a year or two's running. Run using alternate pairs of shoes, and they will last longer. and they get a change to dry out and not stink.

jdim1093

I started running in July. I was 240 pounds. I went to a running store and a young guy helped me pick out some shoes. He looked at my arch height and something called pronation--do I run on the inside or outside of my foot. They had a treadmill there and they were in a small strip mall. I narrowed my choices down to about 3 that I liked and then ran on the treadmill with each. Glad I did. My favorite pair actually HURT while running. There was a seam that was stitched wrong and dug into the top of my foot while running. I had the guy go in the back and get a different pair of the exact same shoe and I've been wearing them ever since. I have over a hundred miles logged on them. I wear them for all of my cardio.

You can go all out and pay big bucks for custom shoes, or you can go to a specialty running store and have someone there help you fit them for free. Plan to spend about $100-$150 on the shoes themselves.

Oh....it was raining where I went and the kid took a dollar out of the register and went out and paid my parking meter for me while I ran on the treadmill.

tpittsley77

Shoe fittings are not hocus pocus and are free at running stores. They check for how you pronate when you walk. It is important to wear the correct shoe. If you overpronate, but wear shoes the wrong shoes, you can cause injury. Get fitted. Your feet, legs, back, etc will all thank you!!

jonnie7053

I would concentrate on correct running form first, if you run correctly you may have no need for artificial support.

LorinaLynn

I think it's important, particularly if you have problems from running. But I haven't had it done. :blushing:

SRH7

Someone recently told me to get fitted for some running shoes because my out side shin muscles begin to tighten as I run and it limits my running. I am 300 lbs and trying desperately to increase my exercise in my short 30 minute time limit.

Any way so my questions are:
1. Has anyone done this before?
2. Is it real or just a bunch of hocus pocus?
3. IF it is real is it worth it?
4. Speaking of worth it how much does it cost?
5. Who does it?
6. And finally after getting "fit" do I know what shoes to buy in the future when these wear out or do you have to get "fitted" every time.

Thanks in advance to the wonderful MFP family.

1 I have had it done every year or two
2 if you go to a running/sports shop, and you have a treadmill/video fitting, then it's real and makes a difference
3 Running shops do it for free
4 Free
5 a Trained member of staff
6 this is just my take , I've lost a fair amount of weight, so my running style and need change, as did my shoes, at 325lb I needed cushioning lot of it. Now 100+lb lighter I need some cushioning and more ankle support and control.
My running friends and I have an unwritten rule, buy one in the shop you got fitted in, and one from the net, you save money on-line, but without your support the shop will close. Two pairs of shoes will last 1000 miles (ish) a year or two's running. Run using alternate pairs of shoes, and they will last longer. and they get a change to dry out and not stink.

Great advice.

Just one thing I would add... make sure the shoes feel right when you try them. I've had it in running shops where they "prescribe" a certain shoe but it just doesn't quite feel right for my feet. Last time I tried on just about every shoe in the shop (well 30 pairs!) until I found one that felt right. Yes, follow their advice on what you need (neutral, minimal, motion control etc) but also be sure they work for you.

Technically I'm supposed to wear neutral shoes - I overpronate but have custom orthotics which correct this (and which I put into the shoe, having the removed the insole it comes with). But I find a little bit of stability really helps stop my ankles falling inward (so I run in Asics Kayano - stability and cushioning).

A good shop will also let you take them away, run in them and come back and exchange them if they don't work for you. I have done this on a no-quibble refund when a pair of shoes I was sold left me with dreadful ankle pain as they were not deep enough to fit my orthotics (it was well-known running chain but I have now taken my business elsewhere).

I do think that little local running shops are generally better - the people who work in them tend to run themselves so have much better knowledge.

magisy

I echo someone's sentiments about doing this every 1-2 years. Over time I've found my over-pronation fluxes (sometimes I need more motion control, sometimes I need less). Once I'm in a good pair of shoes, many of my recurrent problems either lessen or go away completely.

At least at the stores I've been to, they don't charge for the session, and the fitting is conducted by an employee (all employees are trained to do this at my local running store). They bring anywhere from 2-4 shoes to try that would help offset my gait abnormalities, and I can choose whatever I want from there. In my experience, the store prices are comparable to Road Runner online. I generally buy 1 pair from the store that fit me, and then I wait for the model to go on close out on Road Runner (shoe models are like car models, they "update" them every year). When they go on sale, I stockpile a couple pairs so I can start a new pair when I start to feel pains. I'm terrible at tracking mileage so I just wait for my knees/ankles to start aching- that's always my first clue...

One thing I will caution, I used to run in a shoe that would update every year. Models 2120- 2140 (give or take) were very similar- biggest difference was the colors offered. Somewhere around 2150 they actually changed the shaping of the shoe... If I had taken the time to read user reviews, I would have known that BEFORE I bought them, and would have tried them at the store first. Generally it's not a problem to just keep with your shoe, but definitely read reviews- people are picky and will complain if things change too drastically. From that point on, I've let user reviews be one of the deciding factors on whether I get refit (along with new/intensified aches/pains).

Hope you are able to get your fitting done, and you enjoy your new shoes!

SRH7

my out side shin muscles begin to tighten as I run and it limits my running. I am 300 lbs and trying desperately to increase my exercise in my short 30 minute time limit.

Just a couple more thoughts...

With your shins, make sure you do plenty of gentle stretching afterwards (don't stretch before - do walking as your warm-up). An effective way to ease shin pain is to walk up and down on your heels barefoot for 30 seconds, then on your tip toes for 30 seconds. Keep repeating until the pain eases - it really helps gently stretch the muscles.

Also, with being 300lbs you will need shoes that can take a bit more of a hammering than others and also have plenty of cushioning to protect your joints - a running shop will be able to advise. (My weight limited some of my choices, but well worth getting a pair that will last and not fall apart quickly!)

With running form, this is a really helpful video: www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tx6x2cD6Y8Q

rafa46

Definately get yourself fitted for running shoes - makes a huge difference to the comfort of your run, prevents injury too. Rough guide re how long they last - about a year or about 500 miles I think.

Poods71

I'm not a big runner or anything but I was at one point doing a few 5 and 10ks and my feet were giving me problems so I decided to go and get specially fitted trainers (which cost quite a bit). I found that they actually made my problems worse which put me off running completely and I gave the trainers away.

I also watched a programme recently talking about trainers and exercise and it said it doesn't matter what you were, it makes no difference.

That said a lot of people will probably say they found them great and it is probably down to personal experience.

jdub224

I would highly suggest a shoe fitting. I run in 2 pairs of shoes. 1 from my local running shop (Brooks) and another paid I grabbed because I liked the looks of them (Nike). I never have any issues with my "fitted" shoes. I can run pain free and for maximum distances. I simply love those shoes. I actually used what I learned at the shoe fitting to purchase my Nikes, and I believe that I have benefited from the knowledge and experience. Go to a running store where people know what they are doing, they will truly want to help you enjoy running.

I started running at about 340, and am now at 270. Keep pushing for more distance and a little faster time.

Duck_Puddle

Any way so my questions are:
1. Has anyone done this before?
Yes

2. Is it real or just a bunch of hocus pocus?
Real for me

3. IF it is real is it worth it?
Very worth it. Not only do they watch you walk and see how your foot moves and help you determine what kind of shoe you need for that, they also can match the shape of your foot to different shoes/brands (who makes a wider toe box with a narrow heel or who makes shoes for taller feet or what not)

4. Speaking of worth it how much does it cost?
Cheapest running gear ever - $0. Which is good cause you'll start spending all your $ on all kinds of other running crap you don't need but "have" to have. You'll be broke by summer.

5. Who does it?
Someone at a running store. Walk in, look like a lost lamb, and they will take it from there.

6. And finally after getting "fit" do I know what shoes to buy in the future when these wear out or do you have to get "fitted" every time.
Figuring out what shoes to buy is part of the whole "fit" process. Shoes last 300-400 miles or 6 months (give or take). If you lose a lot of weight, and/or the muscles in your feet/leg get stronger-the way you walk may change which may change the kind of shoes you need. If you start getting aches/pains and/or the manufacturer changes your favorite shoe or what not, go get another fitting. They are free after all.

The shoe fitting can seem scary and overwhelming, but it really isn't. And very, very worth it. I have had a whole host of aches and pains and problems magically disappear by changing shoes. Good luck!

RonandDi

After reading all the crap about having someoen fit you for shoes, I went to a very reputable running store and had them do their thing. I walked out with a new pair of shoes that fit well, don't hurt my feet and feel comfortable. As a matter of fact, they feel just like the old pair of Reeboks that I picked off the shelf 5 or 6 years ago (I should rephrase that...the new shoes feel different, much better, but the results are the same). I'm not saying that it's hocus pocus, but I have yet to find anything that could tell me what makes one shoe good for one person and not for another. With all the different resources out there, you would think there would be something available that would say that these shoes are good for over pronate, and these are good for under pronate. They talk about the amount of support, but none seem to have a rating, listing one better than the other.

I'm happy with what I got, and what they did, but I can't help to feel a little of the hocus pocus effect.

Mia_RagazzaTosta

Very worth it and doesn't cost you anything (just the shoes, if you even decide to buy them). But you have to go to a REAL running shop, not ****'s, Foot Locker, Finish Line, etc. Like already mentioned, a good running shop will let you take them after purchase, run in them (even outside), and allow a return if they don't work out. The big box stores will not.

amandammmq

It was worth it for me. They put me in an extra narrow shoe, 1/2 size larger than I had been wearing before, and it made a big difference. A year later, I was all, "I'm going to save money and get non-narrow shoes", and although it felt fine while I was running, I ended up getting blackened and bruised toenails which have never grown right since. Oooooops!

I went to a running store where they watched you run outside down the sidewalk, and they also measured your foot size/ shape and looked at pronation.

Because of the narrowness of my feet, the available shoe choices are quite limited. For instance, I am completely out of luck with these new "minimalist" shoes... all of them have enough space for me to have an extra toe! I'm hoping the industry catches up and starts to provide a wider range (pun intended) of narrow shoes.

Happy running!

katjohn83

Thanks to all.

Sounds like something to do.

Now to find somewhere around here that does it.

Well I'm on the net so I guess google would be appropriate.

Thanks again.

pplf2001

Just look for a running store - I have had great success - and it made a huge difference being properly fit (not just by someone at a big chain like ****'s sporting goods) esp. since I have had foot injuries in the past.

stumblinthrulife

My experience was positive. One data point doesn't make a trend of course, but you can put me down as a convert.

I suffered horrible knee pain, have done pretty much my whole life. In the past I've been able to work through it, but now that I'm older and heavier I found that it was stopping me from starting running - by week 3 of C25k I was in agony, even with knee straps. I had medial pain, anterior pain and lateral pain - the unholy triumvant. I went to the doc, he ordered some x-rays, and suggested as a first step to consult with a pedorthist and get a fitted pair of running shoes.

I went to New Balance in Creve Coeur, MO, and spoke to the pedorthist. He put me on a pressure plate, which showed that I supinate very badly - all my weight is on the outside edge of my feet. It also showed that I have very, very high arches.

He put me in shoes that had a single material sole, slid in a wedge for the supination, and some arch supports. They felt good and I needed new shoes anyway, so I bought them. What a revelation. Within a week I had stopped wearing my knee straps because I simply didn't need them anymore. I completed the couch to 5k program, and now run 5k, 3 times a week, with no knee support and no knee pain. Granted, I have lost nearly 20 pounds over the course of the program, which will help in itself, but I credit the shoes with getting me past the initial pain and allowing me to progress to this point.

Abi_bug04

BUMP.

I definitely didn't realize the importance of well-fitted shoes!
(Currently I am sporting my dad's old runners, and they feel awful).

Looking forward to giving this a read!

pinkgumdrop123

bump. im considering going tonight..but I'm slightly terrified.

mhadams2668

real! do it!

stumblinthrulife

bump. im considering going tonight..but I'm slightly terrified.

There really isn't anything to fear. It's just someone finding a shoe right for your foot and gait.

pobalita

Someone recently told me to get fitted for some running shoes because my out side shin muscles begin to tighten as I run and it limits my running. I am 300 lbs and trying desperately to increase my exercise in my short 30 minute time limit.

Any way so my questions are:
1. Has anyone done this before?
2. Is it real or just a bunch of hocus pocus?
3. IF it is real is it worth it?
4. Speaking of worth it how much does it cost?
5. Who does it?
6. And finally after getting "fit" do I know what shoes to buy in the future when these wear out or do you have to get "fitted" every time.

Thanks in advance to the wonderful MFP family.

1 I have had it done every year or two
2 if you go to a running/sports shop, and you have a treadmill/video fitting, then it's real and makes a difference
3 Running shops do it for free
4 Free
5 a Trained member of staff
6 this is just my take , I've lost a fair amount of weight, so my running style and need change, as did my shoes, at 325lb I needed cushioning lot of it. Now 100+lb lighter I need some cushioning and more ankle support and control.
My running friends and I have an unwritten rule, buy one in the shop you got fitted in, and one from the net, you save money on-line, but without your support the shop will close. Two pairs of shoes will last 1000 miles (ish) a year or two's running. Run using alternate pairs of shoes, and they will last longer. and they get a change to dry out and not stink.

Great advice.

Just one thing I would add... make sure the shoes feel right when you try them. I've had it in running shops where they "prescribe" a certain shoe but it just doesn't quite feel right for my feet. Last time I tried on just about every shoe in the shop (well 30 pairs!) until I found one that felt right. Yes, follow their advice on what you need (neutral, minimal, motion control etc) but also be sure they work for you.

Technically I'm supposed to wear neutral shoes - I overpronate but have custom orthotics which correct this (and which I put into the shoe, having the removed the insole it comes with). But I find a little bit of stability really helps stop my ankles falling inward (so I run in Asics Kayano - stability and cushioning).

A good shop will also let you take them away, run in them and come back and exchange them if they don't work for you. I have done this on a no-quibble refund when a pair of shoes I was sold left me with dreadful ankle pain as they were not deep enough to fit my orthotics (it was well-known running chain but I have now taken my business elsewhere).

I do think that little local running shops are generally better - the people who work in them tend to run themselves so have much better knowledge.

I completely agree. Once a running shop helps you determine the type of shoe you need, you should try on different brands to find out what works best for you. Sometimes store personnel will steer you toward a brand because of their relationship with the vendor or because it is their own favorite; however, you should get a shoe that feels right on *your* foot. I recently took the advice of a running shop on a pair of highly recommended motion control shoes and ended up with three black toenails and hamstring pain. My second time around, I went with motion control again but tried on multiple pairs until I found one that felt great on my feet. No more black toenails and no more hamstring pain.

The right pair of shoes can make all the difference in the world when it comes to deciding whether you want to work out or not. Chose something that is right for your style of motion and fits you well and your workouts will feel so much better.

corneredbycorn

Umm. Hocus pocus? They're watching you walk/run to figure out what would work best for your personal stride and then seeing what size you wear, not chanting an incantation that makes correct fitting shoes magically appear on your feet. :-P

I just went for my first fitting. It was free. They watched me walk back and forth about a dozen times and found I had some pretty severe over pronation (my ankle rolls in toward the end of my step; as soon as they told me, I could feel and see it and it was kind of a lightbulb moment for me). They had me try onanistic run in half a dozen pairs of shoes, all of which were comfy, and I wound up leaving with a pair of Merrell barefoots that I wouldn't trade for anything except maybe a slightly less bright color (they are nearly neon teal). They fit perfectly and make my stride comfortable. I can run faster and longer with them than I can in the shoes I just picked up off the shelf at Kohls and my legs don't feel like they're going to detach and walk off in protest afterward.

Don't be nervous. I have social anxiety and I was crazy nervous, but there was no need to be. The staff was friendly and helpful, totally not pushy, and very, very well informed.

waldo56

It matters for more heel strikers than forefoot strikers.

Heel strikers need the perfect shoe for them. Heel striking is not physically possible (in any sustained way) without special shoes for it. Otherwise you will hurt yourself, that is virtually guaranteed.

Forefoot strikers don't even need shoes, as long as they actually fit you, there is little else to worry about. Usually you'd want as little shoe as possible (it is silly to go to a special running store to get your gait tested and fitted for "minimal" running shoes).

Real for heel strikers. Hocus pocus for forefoot strikers.

Heel strikers would do well to fix their gait though, we are not meant to heel strike, it is only possible due to modern high tech running shoes that really just prevent injury and reinforce poor running form.

pinkgumdrop123

bump. im considering going tonight..but I'm slightly terrified.

There really isn't anything to fear. It's just someone finding a shoe right for your foot and gait.

I know i'm just being silly about it. I have low arches and the shoes I have kill my arches when I run. I just have to suck it up and do it! It will be well worth it to not experience pain when running!

macdiver

I will be the dissenting voice and say it is hocus pocus. I don't mean that a shoe should not fit properly but the idea of correcting a natural foot movement ie pronation is wrong.

The US military gave recruits motion correcting shoes based on the shoe manufacturer fitting procedure. They randomly assigned anther group shoes. The group properly fitted (again according to the shoe manufacturer procedure) had a higher injury rate. The US Military decided that they would not provide properly fitted shoes to their troops based on this study. The military recommends a neutral (non correcting) shoe that fits properly.

Link to articles about the study: http://www.reuters.com/article/2010/07/07/us-running-shoes-idUSTRE6665PZ20100707 and http://www.army.mil/article/42842/.

I do not subscribe to the website where I could download the study directly.


Me, I run barefoot. The picture is my feet at the finish of last Novembers Philly race.