If you are working out in the wrong pair of athletic shoes you are setting yourself up for an injury. Running in Converse may make a fashion statement but in terms of the amount of support your foot will be getting it is practically nil. A common mistake for either new or uninformed exercisers is that they overlook their footwear. Especially in weight bearing and repetitive movements such as with running, stair climbing, power walking, or aerobics where you will be putting continued stress on your feet you need both proper support and adequate cushioning.

There are three main kinds of foot types and you will want to figure out which category you fall under and then seek out an athletic shoe that will fit your needs. These categories are: overpronators, supinators, and neutral foot types. Those that overpronate have an arch that collapses or rolls inward for each footstep. Those that supinate are the opposite in that their feet roll outwardly each time they plant. Finally a neutral foot type is what is to be considered the 'perfect' foot in that when you step your arches neither collapse or bow outwardly. This is hard to diagnose yourself and is easier for someone looking at you walk to determine. Yet you can do a simple test yourself by getting your foot wet and then making a foot print on say a dry patch of pavement. An overpronator's foot will have the most area of dark 'water print' and you will see that over the area where your foot's arch is. Those that supinate will see only a small area of water mark around the arch area and probably only a sliver on the outside of the foot area. A neutral foot will be in the middle of these and while you will see a definite water mark on the outside of the foot area you won't see too much where the arch is.

Once you have discovered your own foot type you will then want to find the correct athletic shoe to wear when you are working out and exercising. If you overpronate you will need a shoe that will give you enough support as your arch rolls in as you step. Shoes like these are called 'stability shoes' and they are the ones that will have a darker, more rigid material on the sole directly below the arch. Supinators are known to have rigid bone structure in their feet and without enough cushioning in their workout shoes they are likely to get stress fractures or injuries there. You then want an athletic shoes that boasts a high level of cushioning and you will find that the soles of these shoes are generally all or mostly white and when you press the material it feels spongy and soft. For those lucky enough to have neutral feet you can get away with almost any shoe and be fine, but be cautious of shoes that are overly supportive and rigid designated for those who are drastic overpronators. Instead you will want shoes that are mostly cushioned and that feels comfortable when you walk and not too hard.

Especially if you are going to be increasing the amount of time you are working out in the gym or the number of miles you will be running you need to make sure that your athletic shoes are that of a high quality. You will also want to make sure you replace them every few months as they begin to break down and look worn out. This will help you stay injury free and on the path of your fitness and weight loss goals!