Choosing a sneaker can really help you step up your workout! We met up with podiatrist Dr. Kristin Blanchet of Palm City Podiatry for her best sneaker selection tips. “My favorite sneaker brands are Asics, New Balance, and Saucony. These brands carry widths which may be helpful if you have a wider forefoot or a slight bunion. Most people do better in a running vs walking style shoe (even if they are not running) because they are lightweight with a forgiving mesh forefoot area,” says Dr. Blanchet.

Many people have a flexible flat foot, meaning that they have an arch when sitting and when they stand the foot flattens out (pronates). These people need a more stable shoe with more support. These sneakers may be labeled as “motion control”. They will most likely also need an arch support on top of a supportive shoe. If you already have orthotics, don’t forget to bring them with you when you are shopping. You should try the orthotic in the new shoe. Other people have a higher arch that is more rigid. These people need more shock absorption. They will want to look for a neutral shoe with more cushioning. Cushioned style shoes are also great for older athletes that have lost some padding to the ball of their foot.

Here are a couple other tips:

1. The average athlete should avoid “minimalist” style shoes. Minimalist shoes are very thin and flexible. Although they work for some people, they can increase the rate of injury when the average athlete buys this style shoe.

2. If you are having pain in your Achilles tendon, make sure that the sole of your sneaker is thicker in the heel than in the ball of the foot. There should be about a 1 cm difference and recently shoes have been coming out with only a 4-6 mm difference, this will put more strain on your Achilles tendon.

3. If you already have orthotics, don’t forget to bring them with you when you are shopping. You should try the orthotic in the new shoe.

4. Lastly, don’t forget to save your receipt and check the store’s return policy. Often it takes more than 5 minutes of walking to decide if a sneaker is right for you.

Thank you previous Couch to 5K Planning Committee Member Tiffany Jones who helped get this resource from Dr. Kristin Blanchet of Palm City Podiatry back in 2018 (our first year of the program!). Thank you Dr. Blanchet for this great information. You can follow great tips from them on their website.

Healthier Jupiter, in partnership with the Town of Jupiter’s Recreation Department, and Jupiter Medical Center’s Cary Grossman Health & Wellness Center, holds an annual 9-week Couch to 5K Training Program. The Couch to 5K Training Program helps individuals gradually increase their physical activity levels enough to walk or run a 5K or 3.1 miles. This program is great to ease your way into a healthier lifestyle and reach your fitness goals. For more information visit healthierjupiter.org/couchto5k.

You can check out other articles in our Couch to 5K Education Series:

Couch to 5K: Choosing the Right Workout Sneaker