Are you tired of experiencing foot pain after your runs? Choosing the right pair of running shoes can significantly impact your comfort and performance. In this video, our expert pedorthist, Jean-Marc, shares valuable tips on what to look for when selecting your next pair.

Here is the video transcript for those who prefer reading over watching videos.

Hi, I’m Jean Marc. I’m one of the pedorthists here at the foot and ankle clinic in Moncton, and today I’m going to explain to you what to look for when you’re purchasing a brand new pair of running shoes. The first thing typically you want to be looking for if you have any foot problems is more of a stiff sole.

You don’t want to be able to bend the shoe right in the ball of the foot here, that doesn’t matter too much if it bends or not. Although with some foot conditions, it’s better if it is a little bit more stiff as well. But mostly a strong middle part right there and a strong heel counter, the back of the heel right there.

What happens when the shoe is too flexible? Anything like this here, with little lines underneath, those you can typically fold right in half. Nothing in the back here, is they’re gonna allow your foot to roll more towards the inside, the outside, and that’s typically gonna put more strain under the fascia, the ligament that’s underneath your foot there.

That’s a lot harder on the feet when they’re too flexible like that. Another good criteria is you want the shoe to have a bit of a rocker underneath. By rocker, I mean the difference between the thickness under the ball of the foot here and the tip of your toe. The more rocker there is, the more the foot, the shoe is gonna roll along with your foot.

The less your foot has to bend under the toes here. And that’s especially important if you have pain under the ball of the foot or a lot of other forefoot problems with the foot. Stiff sole rocker here, and stiff at the back here are generally good things to look for. Typically stronger shoes like this, are going to be a little bit more expensive than the softer ones.

Every brand is going to have higher and lower ends. Generally speaking, New Balance is normally quite good. Although. Once in a while, you’ll still have a bad one, so you gotta check yourself. But yeah, New Balance, Saucony, ASICS, Brooks, those will typically all have a strong frame to them. Brands like Skechers and Nike, often they’ll be more on the soft side.

Some of them will be fine regardless. Like every brand, they’ll have higher and lower ends, but a lot of the popular ones will be soft. So you be the judge when you go shopping. Try to bend them right in half. Make sure it’s sturdy here, sturdy in the back, and you should find yourself a good pair of running shoes that way.