Athletes with intense regimens need to replace their shoes every 3-6 months. We also recommend arch supports for patients with flat feet to prevent knee problems. But the built-ins are often too high and that can lead to other problems. We've found that basic arch supports from the drugstore are OK for most people. In a Canadian study published in Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise earlier this year, researchers further defined the characteristics of a good shoe insert.
Some experts believe that shoes themselves are the reason for many foot injuries.
In a study published in the Jan. 1998 issue of Sports Medicine, the researchers led by Stevens Robbins report that foot positioning is precise when barefoot, but is distorted by athletic footwear, which accounts for the high frequency of ankle sprains in shoed athletes. Krcik cautions that even the best athletic footwear can't prevent injury without a proper warm-up. We refer to torn tendons and ligaments as overuse injuries, but they're often due to inadequate preparation. The importance of stretching before exercise can't be stressed enough, particularly as athletes age. All rights reserved.