This post was written by James Estey, MSAT, ATC, LAT, CIDN, Parkview Sports Medicine.
You may have noticed that many top runners switch out their shoes, but have you ever wondered why? Let’s talk about it!
Reason No. 1 – Activity
One of the big reasons runners have different shoes is that the shoes are meant for different things. They might have a maximal cushion shoe for easy runs, a lighter, stiffer foam shoe for up tempo days and a carbon-plated shoe for workouts and races.
Reason No. 2 – Injury prevention
Shoe rotation is important for more than just performance. It can help prevent injuries as well. By varying the load on the foot and exposing your foot and lower leg to small changes in force, you can encourage your body to adapt over time. If you only ever wore one shoe, your body wouldn’t have the varied stimuli to adapt to, increasing your risk of injury.
Wearing various shoes can also improve neuromuscular function from the varied stimuli as well, which improves overall form and biomechanics.
Reason No. 3 – Surface
Lastly, shoes are made for various surfaces. Maybe you run on the roads. Perhaps you prefer the trails for a change of scenery. Not wearing proper footwear for the environment you’re in increases your risk of acute injury, such as ankle sprains, falls and other injuries that could be mitigated/avoided with proper footwear.
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