Maximizing athletic output

16 Mar 2007 | Lance Cpl. Jon Holmes Marine Corps Training and Education Command

Representatives from Asics and New Balance were at the Depot's Marine Corps Exchange March 14 to fit Marines and sailors with the proper type of shoe their feet require.

There are three different categories of foot shape - neutral, supinate or pronate. Determining which category the runner's foot is determines what shape of shoe the runner needs.

An individual with a neutral foot needs a shoe that provides cushioning and stability. Someone with a supinate foot, a foot with a higher arch than most individuals, needs a shoe with a lot more cushioning and padding to absorb shock. The third type of foot is the pronate, or flat-foot. A flat-footed person has too much motion in the foot and needs a shoe that can help with motion control.

With all the different choices of shoes available, it is important to know the correct size and type of shoe needed. Wearing the wrong shoe can cause several heath problems, which in turn, can affect the athletic abilities of the wearer, said Bill Brown, athletic director, MCRD Parris Island.

"Not wearing the proper footwear can cause blisters, shin splints or hip and back problems, but this can all be solved by having a properly fitting, functioning shoe," added Lt. Cmdr. Christopher Kardohely, podiatrist, Branch Medical Clinic and Naval Hospital Beaufort.

In addition to the health benefits of wearing the correct fitting shoe, there are also athletic benefits.

"You want a shoe to fit," said Ed Atkinson, manufacturer representative for New Balance. "You can run more proficiently if you have a properly fitting shoe. You can also injure yourself with the wrong type of shoe by creating a lot of problems for your feet."

Although the Asics and New Balance shoe fitting is over, service members and their families can still find out what type of feet they have and what kind of shoes they need by contacting Dan DeTace, divisional sales manager, at the MCX.

Marine Corps Training and Education Command