Shoe fitting? Real or Hocus Pocus?

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.

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!!

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

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!

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.

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.

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.

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!

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.

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!

real! do it!

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.

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.

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.