Overweight runners need motion control and cushioning in their shoes.
Overweight runners of either sex need to pay particular attention to choosing the right running shoe. A shoe that provides good motion control and cushioning is essential. An overweight runner is more prone to ankle and knee injuries with every running step because of the force of his body weight against a hard surface. When you are overweight, the most strained parts of your body are your joints. Running is known to create a lot of strain on the leg joints even for people who have a low body mass.
Instructions
1. Determine your foot type. Many overweight runners have flat feet, which tend to overpronate. Pronation is the rotation of the foot as it hits the ground. The foot strikes on the outside of the heel and rolls inward excessively. With heavier runners, there tends to be too much rotation or overpronation, which puts a strain on the ball of the foot with each stride and causes a pounding action, which takes the shock up the lower leg.
2. Look for running shoes that reduce the tendency to overpronate. Motion control shoes counteract excessive rotation of the foot and create a more natural, efficient running action. There is a medial post in the sole of the shoe that resists overpronation. Good cushioning absorbs the pounding of the foot on the ground and the shock on the feet and legs. For these reasons, heavier runners will greatly benefit from motion control running shoes.
3. Choose the right running shoe for motion control and good cushioning. The Asics Gel Evolution 5 has received the Seal of Acceptance from the American Podiatric Medical Association and provides excellent motion control. It sells for $100 from Footlocker as of 2010. The Brooks Beast 10 is one of the top running shoes of 2010 for runners with flat feet. It sells for about $130 as of 2010. Nike Zoom Nucleus MC+ provides upper support and motion control in a lightweight shoe. It can be found for around $70 as of 2010.
Tags: motion control, running shoes, control cushioning, flat feet, heavier runners, motion control cushioning