Yes - it's time for new sneakers

As fall approaches, it’s time to take stock of your fitness footwear.  If you are like me, you have shoes for every activity:  Spin, Zumba, cross-trainers and running shoes.   Sometime we lose track of how long we have actually had these shoes.  You should really replace your sneakers every 6 to 12 months (absolute maximum).  They might look fine outside but remember the insides breaks down and that’s the part you don’t see.   Then the shoe loses its structure and support.

Your feet are the foundation of your body.  Having a solid shoe on your feet will help your posture and provide the proper alignment of your ankles, knees and hips.  In addition, be sure to inspect the innersoles when you buy a new sneaker.  I always rip out the manufacturers’ innersoles, purchase my own cushioned ones and add orthotics.   Try this and you will be walking on a cloud.  Unfortunately, due to cost-cutting practices, manufacturers skimp on cushioning and that’s precisely what you need as your foot starts to age.  We tend to lose the fat in the ball of the foot and our arches fall.  The remedy I mentioned above is a quick solution for this.   By the way, over-the-counter orthotics are just as good as the ones that your Podiatrist can prescribe for you (and cheaper too!).

One last thing, be sure and date your fitness footwear:  I write the date purchase on a piece of masking tape and place it in the sole of the shoe.  This way I will have a precise way of always knowing when I need to replace my sneakers.