Gym Shoes VS Running Shoes- Is there a Difference?
In this day and age of fitness trends and a wealth of information online, it is important to make sure that you are not being mis-led into issues that can impact your health negatively. One such fitness fact that needs to be understood is the right kind of shoe to wear to train at the gym. Some people who are into various kinds of fitness activities understand that each activity might need a different kind of footwear. However, there are others that think that a shoe is a shoe! This ignorance can mean injuring your knee or your back and having to abandon your fitness goals. Lets make sure this doesn’t happen to you!
There is so much more to look at while buying appropriate shoes for workout apart from the fashion and the labels. And just to break the bubble, workout shoes are not the same as the running shoes. The style of these shoes are very different and the features that they provide are also different.
When going to buy a gym shoe look out for the heel drop, the arch support height, the toe box and the right size. In the gym, we do squats, we lift weights, do cross fit, short runs, high intensity exercises and much more. These need shoe flexibility and a perfect grip. Gym shoes should provide foot movement side to side and flexibility. Also the heel drop of the shoe should be low, making the shoe adaptive to various workouts.
On the other hand, running shoes should provide foot movements forward and backward and a very good cushioning with a higher heel drop as a shock absorption mechanism. Running shoes also come in different types depending upon the arch type. For example, a runner with a rigid high arched foot will need a low heel drop with a wide toe box and good lateral support to avoid lateral wearing out of the shoe and for perfect cushioning.
Currently if you are using running shoes for gym training do realize that the grip may not be that good, cushioning in the shoe may be more than required and shoe flexibility may be less which might lower the gym performance.
Alternatively if you are using your gym shoes for long distance running, understand that since the cushioning is less and flexibility of the shoe is higher, mileage might get hampered and the chances of injury might also increase.
Last but not the least- make sure you check the size of your feet to get the right fit. I have seen foot, toe and heel pain arising from an incorrect shoe size too often. If you still have confusion, head on to the clinic with your shoes and we can guide you.
Invest in the right shoes, Don’t let your shoe ruin your fitness..!
