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Hi can anybody tell me if there is an adverse effect from wearing the wrong shoes , ie wearing shoes for over pronation when say you under Pronate ? Wearing a stability shoe when you are a neutral ?
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it is VERY important.
I wear both to be honest. Have had real trouble getting running shoes as every time I have a gait analysis and I do every time I buy I am told something different.
Some say I am a neutral and some say I pronate so I have some of each and alternate them...
Wearing the wrong type of trainer can cause serious long term injuries, such as knee probems, shin splints, arch injury; the list goes on. To often runners are recommended the wrong pair of trainers for their needs. As most people are saying, I would recommend highly to get a gait analysis to ensure that you get the right pair of trainers, but getting a gait analysis make sure you get it from a running specialist, aka stay clear of Sports Direct type of stores.
Additionally, it does happen that some running specialist might state that you are neutral and another one states that you pronate. This can be true in a sense, simply because on one leg you are neutral and the other one pronates. Also your pronation might be so light, that you can wear in fact a neutral pair of shoes, or wear a shoe with only light support. If you do pronate, there are different levels of pronation. So don't just purchase any pair that offer suppport, get the one that offers the right level of support. And if the running shop only has one pair that would be right for you, I would go elsewhere to try on another pair froma different manufacturers, just because there is a world of difference between ASICS and Brooks shoes for example. Not every shoe is good for everybody.
In short, don't just buy blind on the internet, but rather spend time in a running shop to get a good gait analysis, and some good advice. A good running shop will not just to try and sell you a pair trainers after a gait analysis, but a good running shop will take everything into account or at least should, such as past injuries, current running style, gait, distance you run, how often you run, what you are trying to achieve, and offer tips in regards to potentially strenghtening your core and your running ability.
Not all running injuries are caused by just you foot motion, and in many cases its not just correct footwear to prevent the issues. Core strength, good running form & technique and not over training are just as important.
Yes your running gait can change, so don't just assume the same shoe will do the job every time. Yes the shoe companies change details about footwear at each new launch. So again make sure that the new version suit you as well as the old pair.
I under-pronate quite strongly, which causes me no problems at all in neutral cushioned shoes. When I started running I didn't even know what pronation was and was incorrectly advised that I should be wearing stability shoes for over pronation. And that was from a supposedly top quality 'serious' running shop! Anyway, the shoes they sold me had a reinforced bit on the inside of the heel that caused me to roll even more strongly on the outside edge of my feet, and after a few months I ended up with a horrible calf injury which is still causing me problems nearly 10 years later!
So yes, wearing the wrong shoes can cause BIG problems...
A lot depends firstly on where you strike the ground - wearing the right shoes is more important if you heel strike than if you midfoot strike, as in the latter you are only concerned with late stage under or over pronation.
Wearing neutral shoes if you need stability is more of a problem than wearing stability if you need neutral. A lot will depend on the type of stability shoe - if it's only unilaterally posted for overpronation then if you are neutral I wouldn't advise. However if it's universal posted then it shouldn't really make a difference if you strike neutrally, because it's supposed to be correcting over and underpronation, and thus if you strike correctly it will simply be giving support. Indeed, even if you are a neutral runner the arch support can be a reason for choosing a universally posted rather than completely neutral shoe. However, stability shoes are usually heavier than neutral ones, because the posting is made from a stiffer and heavier foam, so the neutral shoe will be lighter.
I do most of my miles in a neutral shoe, but my fast sessions I'm currently doing in a universally posted race flat. I'm a midfoot striker. I've had a long time out of running, and have also taken up cycling, so wanted the posting in these shoes to ensure I don't start overpronating as a result of using bike cleats, which is common, particularly when I'm running straight off the bike in brick sessions and triathlons. I also have weak pereneus muscles, so to pronation would be an injury nightmare for me.
I ended up with an inguinal haematoma (basically a subdermal bleed in my groin), 2.5 years of constant pain, an inability to walk any distance without inflaming the injury, three bouts of physio and little or no running for nearly three years. I'd been prescribed stability shoes for over pronation when in fact what I needed was neutrals and a better gait when running.
Always wear the correct shoes but also factor in the way you carry yourself - for instance if you heel strike - when you're running. Check it out when you're walking too, usually easier to begin with.