I suppose with the holidays, many people are considering upgrades to the bottom end of their wardrobe.
If you over-pronate, like I do (flat feet) you're looking for 4 specific things from a shoe:
1.
Wide mid-section (right under the arch) you want this section almost as
wide as the heel section of your shoe. Motion control shoes will do
this.
2. You want a great deal of support from the middle of the shoe-
basically do the twist test. Take the shoe at both ends, twist it, and
see if the mid section of the shoe wants to flop all over like day old
pizza. If it does, this is NOT the shoe for you (eg. Nike Free, NB
Minnimus, etc)
3. Forefoot bend- place your hands on the toes and try to bend up
the forefoot of the shoe. If this bend occurs in the middle half of the
forefoot, you are happy happy happy. If this bend occurs closer to the
midfoot vs. forefoot - drop it like its hot.
4. A good heel cup is an important consideration for any shoe, to
give the ankle a bit more proximal stability. Make sure you cant flop
the sides and back of the heel all over the place. You want some
stability here for sure!
I personally would look into changing up shoes before considering orthotics, as that often solves most problems right out of the gate. There are many shoes available that fit these criteria, but not all will feel right with your foot. So, if you are considering your next pair of shoes, think about these things, and try the shoes! Do as many different activities in store as you can: jog, squat, balance on one leg, etc. This will give you the best perspective on whether or not the shoe is right for you.
