As a trainer, I often see participants who come to train with us and often choose running shoes as sports shoes. However, this can actually prevent you from moving optimally towards your objective. Let me explain why.
Running shoes are often designed to provide gait, support and/or suspension, which is ideal for running. This can often be seen in the shape of the shoe, with a bulge at the front. This ensures that you have less contact surface with the floor/ground. In comparison, shoes specifically designed for fitness often have a flat sole, giving you more contact surface. This is important, but why exactly?
People generally come to us to work on physical goals, often with the help of strength training. During strength training, static exercises are often performed, such as squats. With a squat you go down and come back up. In a squat, stability is essential to maintain stiffness and control over the body. A shoe with more contact surface contributes to more stability and control over movement. Therefore, running shoes are often not ideal for strength training, because they have less contact surface and are really designed for continuous movements such as running. But which shoes are suitable? I am a big fan of Nike Metcon and Reebok Nano shoes. These shoes both have a flat sole and are widely used in the crossfit and fitness industry. So, if you're buying new sneakers, consider these options.
David Wijsman
Enforce Master Trainer
david@enforce.nl
