My wife has finally caught the weight lifting bug and if she sticks with it a couple more weeks, to show my support I was going to buy her a new Ipod and a pair of new shoes to work out in. The problem is she has really flat feet so I'm unsure if I need to buy something with a lot of support. Any suggestions?
My wife has finally caught the weight lifting bug and if she sticks with it a couple more weeks, to show my support I was going to buy her a new Ipod and a pair of new shoes to work out in. The problem is she has really flat feet so I'm unsure if I need to buy something with a lot of support. Any suggestions?
What a great guy! That's a very nice thing for you to do!
When I started NROL I was using my running shoes and very soon learned that squatting in my running shoes wasn't going to cut it! I then switched over to Nike Free's and love them for lifting! I don't know much about flat feet, but if Nike Free's work for the flat-footed, I do know they work great for lifting.
I've been lifting bare foot lately, but I have the luxury of lifting in my garage; the gym owners might frown on this. I've also used the Converse Chuck Taylors. You're wife might not like the look of the Chucks, so the Nike Free 7.0 are a great alternative.
I hope you'll encourage her to begin now doing soft tissue work on the soles of on her feet and her calves. No matter what type of shoes you go with right now, it's still smart to work to correct the problem as much as it can be corrected.
Roland, you said no Nike Frees. In your opinion, do you think a flat-footed person can work their way into them by wearing them initially for short periods of time and then incrementally increasing that time? That would have been my recommendation, but then I haven't had to deal with the problem personally. Maybe it'd make more sense to begin that incremental process just walking barefoot around the house, say 30 minutes, and working that time up slowly.
This article doesn't answer the question about what shoes would be right for her at this time, but it's a very interesting article. I think I got this link from Ben. So, just to add to the discussion: You Walk Wrong.
I wouldn't suggest the vibrams, (the finger shoes Roland mentioned) but they are better than chucks or frees when it comes to arch support. The ones with the strap especially, because the strap is what you use to pull the arch support piece in. But with actual flat feet, it'd prolly take a while to work into them. But, some of them DO actually offer arch support. Otto does ok with them and while he's not flat footed, he does come close.
Anyway, I don't really have any suggestions because while normally you could just go to a running store and have them evaluate her and get her good shoes, in this case you wouldn't likely want that shoe for lifting in.
I see that while Roland was quick to detract, he has no actual suggestions…
I hope you'll encourage her to begin now doing soft tissue work on the soles of on her feet and her calves. No matter what type of shoes you go with right now, it's still smart to work to correct the problem as much as it can be corrected.
and her hamstrings, etc.
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Roland, you said no Nike Frees. In your opinion, do you think a flat-footed person can work their way into them by wearing them initially for short periods of time and then incrementally increasing that time? That would have been my recommendation, but then I haven't had to deal with the problem personally. Maybe it'd make more sense to begin that incremental process just walking barefoot around the house, say 30 minutes, and working that time up slowly.
I wear 5.0s, but I took the insole out and use my Pinnacle Powerstep insole, instead.
I also have some Chucks. But, they are loose enough to fit my special insole.
There are two issues. The arch support and the heel. It's all tied together, but if you have flat feet and go to flat shoes, you stretch (or trigger the fascia to tighten) all the way up the chain (PF, calves, hamsstrings, etc., etc., up to the shoulders, neck and beyond). There will be trouble somewhere.
Other than deadlifting (or looking super hot in my red Chucks), I almost always wear crosstrainers with a heel to workout. The heel makes suere there is less stretching of the pf (plantar fascia), calves, etc. under a load. I'll keep the stretching controllable (before and/or after workouts) and think about lower heeled shoes for lifting down the road.
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This article doesn't answer the question about what shoes would be right for her at this time, but it's a very interesting article. I think I got this link from Ben. So, just to add to the discussion: You Walk Wrong.
Sweet. Reading for later!
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Originally Posted by Bytsi
So what WOULD you recommend? I have flat feet and would love to find lifting shoes that support me enough!
Insoles can be your best friend. I got mine at a running store. They really know a lot about feet there. They can help you analyze your gait and recommend an insole.
I told them I wasn't going to be running and they helped see the insole. $30-35. The other brand is Superfeet. Even my Kaiser pharmacy has those, but they aren't cheaper and you don't get a guy who might know feet (running store).
Without insoles, running shoes and crosstrainers seem to have more arch support. Don't confused "support" with "arch support." "Support" can mean to the ankle, as in high tops, or lateral support (firmer outsoles, firmer upper, etc.). You want arch support!
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Originally Posted by Aoife
I wouldn't suggest the vibrams, (the finger shoes Roland mentioned) but they are better than chucks or frees when it comes to arch support. The ones with the strap especially, because the strap is what you use to pull the arch support piece in. But with actual flat feet, it'd prolly take a while to work into them. But, some of them DO actually offer arch support. Otto does ok with them and while he's not flat footed, he does come close.
Anyway, I don't really have any suggestions because while normally you could just go to a running store and have them evaluate her and get her good shoes, in this case you wouldn't likely want that shoe for lifting in.
I see that while Roland was quick to detract, he has no actual suggestions…
I'm sure that strap helps some. It's like the pf strap I wear when I sit or sleep for a long time. It keeps the arch from relaxing to it's shortest and tightest. This helps when you stand and suddenly put pressure down on the feet. I'm not sure it actually provides arch support though. When standing, that strap could stretch. Better, not best.
Without my strap, I have to be more careful with my first few steps out of bed or up from my desk.
By the way, all these same issues (of flat heeled and no arch support in shoes) will happen with bare feet. If you decide to go barefoot a lot, especially under tension and stress, you NEED to live the barefoot lifestyle, not just go barefoot.
Traits of a barefoot lifestyle include being very physically active, not a lot of sitting, good posture (sitting and standing), squatting down easily, good ankle, hip, shoulder mobility, muscles that aren't tight.
Things like plantar fasciitis, flat feet, squatting with heels elevated, tension headaches, forward head posture, etc. are signs that you're (me included) living the typical modern lifestyle and might not be ready for flat shoes with no support, much less lifting heavy with barefeet.
So one thing to keep in mind is if you go to the running store to get shoes to lift in, tell them you're gonna lift. Fleet feet here then recommends a sturdier insole insert and that helps the life of the shoe. Since they shoes aren't *meant* for heavy lifting, you can wear out the shoe faster, according to the store, and the better insert helps with that. blah blah blah, the dude was saying other stuff to Otto as well, but it's been a while and now the drugs make my brain foggy.
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I'm sure that strap helps some. It's like the pf strap I wear when I sit or sleep for a long time. It keeps the arch from relaxing to it's shortest and tightest. This helps when you stand and suddenly put pressure down on the feet. I'm not sure it actually provides arch support though. When standing, that strap could stretch. Better, not best.
That's what I was trying to basically say. It helps some. I doubt it's helpful for flat feet, other than being better than being barefoot, but it is better than say chucks.
there was something else floating in my brain, but it's gone now so I'll shut up.
This article doesn't answer the question about what shoes would be right for her at this time, but it's a very interesting article. I think I got this link from Ben. So, just to add to the discussion: You Walk Wrong.
Woo! A citation!
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If she doesn't have any pain from flat feet, then I'd start with some good quality crosstrainers. Pick some where the insoles are removable. They may be supportive enough already.
I'm not so sure that a woman would appreciate arch supports for flat feet as part of a gift. Flat feet don't sound particularly attractive, but personally, I think they're totally hot.
Anyhow, the iPod and some cool shoes are a great gift.
You can also get her the insoles and just give them to her a day or so later. Just so you know, they feel funny at first. We're just not used to that level of arch support. So, she should feel good about the fit of the shoes, decide they work, then get the arch supports.
Thanks Roland - my DH swears by his superfeet (which he got at a running store) and I do love insoles to make my feet more comfy... I've been using arch-supportive cross trainers to lift, and will stick with that for now...
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