Walking Shoes in the News

Source: Rutland Herald

Recently, a neighbor asked me if I carry identification with me when I run. Because I have a regular running partner, I don’t carry identification, but I do carry a cell phone.

But the question got me thinking about safety and reminded me that this is something to always consider. This is of even greater importance now with the time change as people exercising outside before or after work face increasing darkness.

Walking or running outside is one of the best ways to get a lift during the day and maintain health throughout the cold months. However, getting outside in the winter poses some unique challenges for maintaining an exercise program. Before you lace up your sneakers, let’s discuss some important tips that can help ensure your safety.

Buddy Up: One of the best ways to increase safety is to find an exercise buddy. This is particularly important if you walk during the early morning or evening hours, when it is dark or if you exercise in rural areas.

Reflective Gear: Wearing reflective gear is essential for safety in the winter months. If you are out during hours of darkness, then you should wear reflective gear that increases your visibility to drivers. Most shoes have reflective materials built into the upper, but these are inadequate by themselves. Reflective vests, cuffs and hats are readily found at most sports or outdoor gear shops. Carrying a flashlight or using a headlamp can also increase visibility to on-coming vehicles.

Driver awareness: When using the roadways, do not assume that drivers see you or will give you the right of way. If there are no sidewalks, you should walk against traffic so that you can be aware of potential danger coming towards you. This is not true, however, for bicyclists who should always travel in the same direction as cars. (Also, by law, cyclists at night must have both a white front lamp and a rear red lamp on their bikes).

Be prepared: During the winter months, it is particularly important to be prepared for the elements. Be sure to dress appropriately for cooler weather. Obviously, if you are venturing into the back country in the winter, this is a matter of survival. But for closer-to-home activities, dressing right can be the difference between enjoyable exercise or a miserable outdoor experience. In order to exercise in icy conditions, consider purchasing ice and snow traction cleats. These anti-slip soles fit on the bottom of most shoes and can help prevent falls.

Communicate: Be sure to tell someone where you are going and what time you expect to return. Carrying a cell phone is always a good idea, but it is not a good idea to rely solely on a cell phone as you may not have coverage in the area.

Be aware of your environment: Finally, before heading out, be sure to evaluate the safety of your route and prepare accordingly. Do not wear headphones as they prevent you from hearing oncoming traffic or someone coming up behind you. Being aware of your surroundings is absolutely essential to your safety.

(Jenny Nixon Carter is the executive director of the Rutland Physical Activity Coalition For more information on the coalition visit www.rapac.info)

photo credit: elward-photography

“Of all the things for which women have an inexplicable affection–Matthew McConaughey springs to mind–high-heeled shoes are among the most puzzling. Scientists have linked wearing them to serious health conditions, such as osteoarthritis and sciatica, as well as milder ones with hideous names like hammertoe and–my favorite–Haglund’s deformity (a lump on the Achilles tendon, also known as pump bump). A Swedish study even associates heels with schizophrenia. Yet this season, women are heading off to work in footgear more vertiginous than ever, topping out at about 6 in. (15 cm). Just last month tree-high shoes felled several models on the Milan runways, and no wonder. Walking in heels that height is the rough equivalent of trying to stroll down Space Mountain.”

“Crunch introduced its Stiletto Strength classes to New York City in 2006 and now offers them in Los Angeles, San Francisco and Chicago. “It’s one of our most popular classes,” says Donna Cyrus, Crunch’s senior VP of programming. Legworks, which offers the workshop I went to in Manhattan, has a growing fan base. The Los Angeles high-end shoe store Il Primo Passo holds high-heel-walking classes, taught by a drag queen, of course, on a monthly basis.”

Sourcel Time

Story Published: Sep 30, 2008 at 5:52 PM PDT
By Herb Weisbaum & Good Housekeeping

Walking is great exercise. But if walking is a part of your exercise routine, you need a good pair of walking shoes. And the folks at the Good Housekeeping Research Institute have done all the legwork to make it easy for you to make the right choice.

Finding the perfect walking shoe is no walk in the park.

“What you need to know before you go out and buy a pair of walking shoes is what type of foot you have,” said Kathleen Huddy, the institute’s textiles director.

The best way to do this, Huddy says, is to “take a brown piece of paper, wet your bare foot, step on it as if you would walking and look at what the imprint is.”

If you see a lot of your foot in the wet imprint that means you have a low arch, and you’ll need something like the Asics Gel Kayano Walker 7 ($100).

Huddy says the shoe has a lot of support here at the bottom, and is wider than other shoes.

When you step on the brown paper and you see just a little of your foot on the imprint, that means you have a high arch. And what you need is a show like the Brooks Defyance ($90), which offers a different support system. [Ed. The Brooks Addiction is also an excellent choice.]

You don’t have to spend a fortune to get a good pair of walking shoes.

Good Housekeeping testers liked the Saucony Grid Instep RT, and it’s just $60.

The institute says a good walking shoe should be as wide as your foot or slightly wider to ensure an even distribution of weight. And make sure the shoe bends easily at the forefront. You want the shoe to be flexible for walking.

Maybe you’d like to get a little more out of your walk. The following are a few tips from my friend, Dr. John Schwartzberg, at the UC Berkeley Wellness Letter.

Swing your arms. It burns more calories and gives a little bit of a workout to your shoulders and arms.

Choose a varied terrain. You burn more calories walking on grass or gravel. And plan your route so you walk up a few hills.

Try walking backwards. I’m not kidding. When you walk backwards you use different muscles than when you walk forward so it strengthens different muscles. You just need to make sure you have someone with you to keep you from running into something.

Use hand weights. Dr. Schwartzberg says they’re good because they make you burn more calories. You just need to be careful not to hurt yourself.

Source: Komo News

By Deanna Allen
Staff Writer

Are you considering walking for a cause or for an event and have never done that type of thing before?

Althea Lawton-Thompson, fitness professional and star of the “Altheatized” exercise video series who owns Aerobics, Yoga & More in Lilburn, has some advice on getting started.

“For someone who is currently sedentary or not that active, I would suggest walking at a local park, around a school track or around a neighborhood,” Lawton-Thompson said. She suggested a route that’s not too hilly and taking 15 minute walks two times a week to start.

“I wouldn’t try anything too rigorous to start out,” she said. “To get ready for a 5K, which is 3.1 miles, I would suggest slowly increasing the time by five to 10 minutes every week to two weeks.”

Lawton-Thompson said walkers need three to six months to prepare for their first distance walk.

When the day of the walk finally comes, Lawton-Thompson stressed staying hydrated before, during and after, wearing comfortable walking shoes that are broken in and stretching after a five to 10 minute warmup before beginning the walk. She also emphasized the difference between walking and running shoes - walkers need the former.

“Running shoes are higher in the heel, because they’re made for a very heavy heel strike,” Lawton-Thompson said. “Walking shoes have equally balanced soles from the ball of the foot to the heel.”

For more information on Lawton-Thompson, visit aymfitness.com or call 678-749-7777.

Source: Gwinnet Daily Post

PUMA Speed Cat gives you two provocative looks that will have your friends and co-workers asking you where you got them. The lace-up style encloses your entire foot so you get a fully covered feeling, like a boot, that provides good lateral support for those lunch time jaunts.

The Speed Cat sneaker has a smooth, soft fashion leather upper that is durable, yet ultra-cozy. The black coffee model is glossy leather with a tiny circular pattern. The puncing puma on the pink and white model is sure to get you noticed as the office trend setter.

Tonal topstitching adds to the sporty look while the contrasting embroidered puma on the toe adds a fun touch. The oil-resistant rubber sole and cushy padded insole and collar will give you the protection that you need to wear this fun lace-up style anywhere and everywhere.

Propet Men’s Wash & Wear Slip On

Wash and Wear? What? Yes, that’s right; the name says it all with this slip-on sneaker from Propet. Tagged with a 1,000 mile guarantee, this lightweight, soft leather sneaker will hug your foot with perfection, while the neoprene collar will allow for a fully flexible step. What’s more, the multi-directional tread will give you traction on multiple surfaces, while the removable shock absorber insole will keep you light on your feet from morning to night. The Wash and Wear makes the road ahead virtually endless.

Leather upper
Rubber sole
Washable quilted leather upper
Removable cushioned orthotic
Moleded EVA midsole with durable arch support
Built-in contoured heel stabilizer
Rocker profile, stretchable nylon padded collar; removable cushion orthotic; durable arch support; built-in contoured heel stabilizer; external & internal heel counters; flex groove for better mobility

Buy this shoe today. Wear Tomorrow.

By: Dee Wilson

Yesterday, I was looking for walking shoes in the mall. There I stood, somewhat lost amid hundreds of tennis shoes, trying to find my perfect fit and brand. Questions, such as, what should I look for in a shoe that’s meant for walking? What is the difference between a walking shoe and a running shoe? Well, yes, I admit, I stood much too long there, just reading boxes before finally asking for help. Here is what I’ve learned.

When you buy walking shoes, consider the following:

Low heel for stride efficiency
Easy heel to toe roll
Ankle support
Heel support to keep feet snug in place while walking
Cushioning to minimize impact
Skid proof sole for durability

I’ve decided on The New Balance 574 for best walking shoe.

Let’s take a closer look:

Available for women, men, and children
choose from different colors, or black / white
Classic, sporty or retro look
Lightweight upper material
Upper material, suede or mesh for breathing
Padded color and tongue
Mid-sole is EVA injection molded
Superior mid-foot support
Non marking carbon rubber traction
Shock absorbing sole and heel
Supportive cushioning
Modular design for optimum comfort

Now I’m ready to go walking….

To answer the question, is there a difference between a running shoe and a walking shoe? No. I don’t think so…. But do you? Please comment….

[Ed. Good choice. I think that New Balance Women's WW844 Walking Shoe might be a slightly better choice. Neither is wrong]

Source: dietactivity.com

A quick yes or no doesn’t fit the question any more than one shoe size would fit every foot.

Give today’s shoe manufacturers’ the credit for employing the best and the brightest scientists and engineers to design and manufacture highly specialized shoes for almost every fitness activity.

Of course you can walk in your running shoes but if you walk more than, say 30 minutes a day, then your feet will know the difference between having worn running shoes and walking shoes. Walking shoes are different from running shoes. Walking shoes are more flexible in the center. The natural walking gait is heel to toe. As the heel strikes the ground your foot rolls gently forward. Stiff shoes hinder the gentle roll and place a strain on your foot muscles that a good walking shoe will not.

Walking shoes and running shoes differ on heel height and construction also. Running shoe heels are higher than those found in shoes made for a walking gait. Again, the lower walking shoe heel better accomodates the gentle roll of the foot from heel to toe.

The reverse is true also. Walking shoes would hinder the performance of the long distance runner because they are not made to cushion the foot in a slightly forward center of gravity alignment.

Modern shoes are engineering marvels. Take advantage of the technology with a pair of the best walking shoes. My choice: Saucony ProGrid Stabil LE.

The feet take quite a pounding during walking. According to the American Podiatric Medical Association, an average day of walking puts a combined force of several hundred tons on the feet.

Children have different foot shapes and shoe needs. The American Podiatric Medical Association has some tips to help parents choose the best shoe for a child:

1. Check the shoe size while the child is standing (the foot tends to spread slightly while standing as opposed to sitting)…continue

Source: wsoctv

Abstract

Background: High peak plantar pressures predispose to foot problems and may exacerbate existing conditions. For podiatric physicians to make educated recommendations to their patients, it is important and necessary to begin to look at different shoes and how they affect peak plantar pressure.

Methods: To determine how flip-flops change peak plantar pressure while walking, we compared peak plantar pressures in the same test subjects wearing flip-flops, wearing athletic shoes, and in bare feet. Ten women with size 7 feet and a body mass index less than 25 kg/m2 were tested with an in-shoe pressure-measurement system. These data were collected and analyzed by one-way analysis of variance and computer software.

Results: Statistically significant results were obtained for nine of the 18 comparisons. In each of these comparisons, flip-flops always demonstrated higher peak plantar pressures than athletic shoes but lower pressures than bare feet.

Conclusion: Although these data demonstrate that flip-flops have a minor protective role as a shock absorber during the gait cycle compared with pressures measured while barefoot, compared with athletic shoes, they increase peak plantar pressures, placing the foot at greater risk for pathologic abnormalities. (J Am Podiatr Med Assoc 98(5): 374–378, 2008)

Source: Journal of the American Podiatric Medical Association