2023-10-01 05:10:24
“The best shoe is the most comfortable.” This seems like a marketing phrase (and it may be part of some shoe ), but it is real. When playing sports or doing any type of physical activity, choosing the right shoe is essential. Given this, in recent years its relationship with injuries has been “overestimated” as stated, in dialogue with EL DIA, Dr. Vicente Paús, medical director of the Sports Clinic.
There is something hidden behind this “overestimation” of the link between sports shoes and injuries. Namely, beyond the impact of sneakers on lacerations, there are the real causes that can cause health problems. For example, the specialist refers to the idea of “belonging” to a running group and the difficulties that this presents when running without respecting the performance of each person.
For that matter, a woman is not the same as a man, nor should all people be treated in the same way regardless of age. “A woman has a hormonal factor that greatly facilitates what are called ‘stress fractures.’ Today it is very fashionable for women over 40 to start running in amateur groups, but there coexist runners who have been competing for three or four years,” said the medical director of the Sports Clinic.
“Medicine is in trouble”
Given this, the specialist believed that “medicine is in trouble” because there are professionals who “do not take the time to fully listen to and review patients.” So, before playing sports or doing physical activity, “the most important thing is to be seen by your doctor. as a first measure; and, then, your cardiologist to do all the pre-competitive studies,” he advised.
According to the professional in the area in question, some professionals from the new generations of doctors also do not take the time to “completely undress” patients in order to carry out exhaustive medical observation. “That is the key to what is currently happening,” Paús acknowledged, alluding to steps that are omitted and that can lead to a wrong medical diagnosis.
What happens is that, to a certain extent, these ‘half-hearted’ examinations tend to cause a blurring of the problem on the part of the patient. Furthermore, the relationship between sports shoes and the incidence of injuries is overrated, thus prioritizing footwear that provides anti-laceration ‘superpowers’.
“When patients arrive at the office, they ask us: ‘What shoes do I need?’ When we answer them, we ask them to take off their clothes to observe them in depth and they look at us with some perplexity. Then, they answer: ‘No, doctor, I come for the shoes.’ But, as a specialist, I need to see them from head to toe to be able to interpret the patient’s morphotype, whether they have scoleosis, kyphosis, length discrepancy (one foot shorter than the other) or any pelvic imbalance,” said the traumatologist.
The patients’ concern, in effect, focuses on what is worn on their feet and the purpose in the search for optimal shoes is disregarded. “The best footwear is the most suitable for each patient or for each runner. The most important thing is to avoid injuries that occur during running, rather than just talking about footwear, because shoes do not prevent injuries during running,” Paús clarified.
Scientifically, there is no evidence that athletic shoes, per se, cause injuries. However, there are incidents from its use. In fact, in an article (titled: “Myths and reality of running shoes”) by the aforementioned doctor and his colleague Ariel Graieb, a doctor in the gait department of Clínica del Deporte, both cited that footwear “can increase the energy expenditure and cause unbalanced muscle activity to achieve the movement pattern (when walking or running). “This indirectly modifies the repetitive load absorbed by the tissue, lowering the injury threshold.”
In other words, medical specialists talk about how certain sports shoes can affect and generate some type of discomfort in order to be able to run or exercise the way each person does. This can affect the movements you make when playing sports or doing physical activity, which could increase your risk of injury.
Before knowing what to wear on your feet
“In practice, the important thing is to be able to determine, with a global examination, what deficits the patient has,” analyzed Vicente Paús. In that sense, the medical study prior to knowing which shoes to use consists of reviewing even the smallest detail.
“There are people who have one foot pronated (tilted inward) on one side and the other, neutral (normal). So, we can’t tell you to go and buy two sneakers. You have to do a good study of the gait, film that patient and perform a pangoniometry,” explained the doctor.
“Although footwear with movement ‘control technology’ seems to be a good option for hyper-pronating feet, we advise making all gait corrections through a biomechanical study of walking and running, and the creation of personalized orthopedic insoles,” they added in the article.
According to what specialist Paús commented, there are also “length discrepancies” (One foot shorter than the other) that are reviewed using a plate. And, on the other hand, they must be observed if there are “unevenness” between the heel and the sole, so, in this case, the important thing is to carry out a study of the biomechanics of the patient’s movement (watch how they run or walk). This means leaving the x-ray or MRI rooms and being able to see people exercising, in order to see the “deficits.”
In the article by the two aforementioned professionals, they also talked about that “the stiffness of the sole does not seem to modify the incidence of injuries, and can be chosen according to the comfort or performance of the athlete.”
For plantar fasciitis and other conditions
While specialized shoes, such as maximalist (high-top) shoes and stability shoes, may not prevent running injuries, some doctors say they sometimes recommend them to patients with certain types of pain or injuries. For example, if you suffer from arthritis, plantar fasciitis, or other types of foot pain, maximalist shoes, especially those with rubber rocker soles, would work well for running or walking, as there is some evidence that they would reduce pressure. on the feet, as well as the demand on the ankles and Achilles heel would be reduced.
Especially in cases of plantar fasciitis, it is important to know that if you walk barefoot or wear sneakers or shoes that are too flat, the pain can worsen. Even wearing old shoes can also cause it because they lose their ability to protect and support the feet over time. Indeed, it is best to opt for a new pair of running shoes with a thick, well-cushioned sole. Meanwhile, if you suffer from flat feet, it is important to choose a pair with good arch support.
“The best footwear is the most suitable for each patient or for each runner,” said Dr. Paús.
Scientifically, there is no evidence that athletic shoes, per se, cause injuries.
“In practice, the important thing is to determine the patient’s deficits,” said Dr. Paús.
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