Motion control running shoes limit overpronation and reduce injury by providing stability and limiting excessive rolling of the feet. However, some medical professionals recommend removable orthotics as a better option for sustained foot support.
Motion control running shoes are a type of athletic shoe designed to regulate the range of motion of the foot during a run to minimize injury. These shoes are intended for runners who inadvertently roll their feet in while running, a tendency that can cause stress on the feet, ankles, knees, hips, and lower back. While many motion control shoes are virtually indistinguishable from regular shoes, they do have a built-in support system that provides stability and limits excessive rolling of the feet. Some medical professionals discourage this type of shoe and recommend removable orthotics as a better option for sustained foot support.
Many runners have a natural tendency to roll their feet and ankles inward as they run, a condition known as overpronation. This trend makes the inner edges of the feet bear much of the work of running, supporting the body weight and absorbing the impact of each step. Over time, this condition can cause pain and injury to the feet and ankles, as well as the knees, hips, and lower back.
Athletic shoe designers created motion-controlled shoes to limit this overpronation and, by extension, reduce injury. In most cases, motion control features are built into these shoes and are therefore undetectable to the casual observer. Many of the most popular running shoe manufacturers offer one or more motion control models.
Perhaps the central component of this type of shoe is the medial post, a support structure that runs the length of the inner foot and discourages inward rolling. Overpronation can cause the inner edge of a shoe’s sole to wear down, further promoting rolling. Therefore, many motion control shoes also feature extremely durable soles that prevent this type of wear and provide additional foot support.
Some medical professionals advise against the use of motion-controlled running shoes. They argue that while shoes can control rolling of the foot during exercise, overpronation is a problem that extends beyond running. Thus, the body is protected from injury while wearing the shoes, but unprotected at all other times. Additionally, constant readjustment from corrective to non-corrective shoes can place stress on the lower body and therefore increase susceptibility to injury. As an alternative to motion-controlled running shoes, these professionals recommend removable orthotics, which are custom-molded to a person’s foot and can be transferred from one pair of shoes to another.
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