Here's how we fit you to help prevent injury and enhance perfromance!

Much like regular exercise is vital to fitness and health, foot health is important to your overall well-being. Unfortunately, healthy feet is a subject many people don't think about enough, and some take for granted. At Fleet Feet Sports Mahwah, helping you find the right fit is our 'Fitlosophy'. We believe that choosing proper shoes for running, walking, or any athletic activity is a key step to sustaining an injury-free, enjoyable fitness program.

How do we go about helping you select the proper footwear for your athletic activity?

 1. You can't judge a shoe by its’ color! Shoes fall into one of three categories: neutral, stability, or motion control. Wearing a shoe with too little stability or too much stability can cause numerous problems such as plantar fasciitis, shin splints and IT band strain, and over time, more severe problems. It is important to select a shoe appropriate for your foot biomechanics, not based on color or style.

2. We ask you to be willing to share information. We'll discuss any injuries or nagging pains you are experiencing as well as other factors that can impact your feet. What shoes and styles have worked well for you in the past? What shoes have caused problems? Bring your current shoes to the store.

3. We measure your feet each time you purchase shoes. Feet change as you age. Life changes such as childbirth, or weight change and general aging can cause gradual changes to your feet. The size and style that worked for you in the past might not be the best option anymore. We will measure your foot and we will also video analyze your gait and watch you foot biomechanics, so we can narrow down which shoes are best for you.

4. Don't forget your orthotics. If you wear an orthotic, be sure to bring them along. It will be important to have your orthotics on hand so we can help you select a shoe that compliments your orthotic properly.

5. Size matters! Athletic shoes should allow for a thumbnail length between your longest toe and the end of the shoe. The flex point in the shoe should bend at the ball of your foot and your heel should remain stable and not move in and out of the shoe. We'll invite you try the shoe for a short walk or run, on our treadmill.

6. We’ll show you how to check the wear of your shoes regularly. The midsole of a shoe is made of a foam material which overtime compresses and breaks down. As a shoe breaks down, the shoe does not offer the same stability and benefits as it did on Day 1. Every individual is different but runners and walkers should replace their shoes every 300-375 miles. Checking and changing your shoes is one of the best ways to continue with a healthy fitness program and avoid the doctor's office.

Regardless of your level of fitness, smart choices in shoes can make a significant difference in the enjoyment of your fitness activities and everyday life. Proper fitting shoes can mean the difference between pain and discomfort and injury-free activities. Doctors and podiatrists play a significant role in diagnosing and aiding pain and discomfort; however, simply choosing the right shoes is a major step toward comfort.

Why don't we use a foot scanner?

Some people wonder why we don't use a "foot scanner" that you can simply step on to determine what shoe or insole is right for you. These computerized scanners, which are used in drug stores, superstores, and other running stores, show your foot's pressure points and arch type. It's a fancy way of doing the "Wet Test": wet your feet and stand on a surface, like a brown paper bag, that leaves a visible footprint. The wider the band that connects your heel and ball, the lower the arch you have.

Your arch type effects your biomechanics and is an important component of choosing the right shoe for your foot, but it is only part of the FIT story since at least 20% of people's arches act differently than they "should". At Fleet Feet Mahwah, our FIT Process has three main components that help us define your foot and make the best shoe recommendations for you: foot morphology, biomechanical assessment and "other".

Foot morphology is a fancy way of saying that we analyze your foot size, shape and arch type. This is done by visually looking at the foot standing still and in motion (important since you are in motion when you run!) and taking multiple measurements with an old-fashioned Brannock device. This helps us to choose the right size shoe and shoe brand since each shoe company fits a certain shaped foot better. That is why your friend may swear by his brand shoes, but they cause you pain.

Next, we examine your biomechanics by determining your arch flexibility and doing a video gait analysis. This tells us if you overpronate, supinate or are naturally efficient which in turn, governs what type of shoe you need.

Finally, we take your personal considerations into account like your gender, weight, training surface, weekly mileage, injury status, orthotics and characteristics in your foot like bunions. We take all of this and bring out 2-3 pairs of shoes that we think will fit you best. Don't be surprised if all of those shoes feel amazing - it means that we did our job right!

When you think about it, the foot is a complicated structure. It has 28 bones, 33 joints, 112 ligaments, tendons, nerves and blood vessels that work in unison to support, balance and propel your body. No two feet are exactly alike nor do they always fit into a specific category. Don't cheat your feet and let a computer scan recommend an orthotic or running shoe for you. An injury is going to cost you a lot more, monetarily and mentally, than a good pair of shoes. Invest in your feet.

Let our Fit Professionals teach you about your feet and help you find the perfect fit. You’ll be glad you did just as these folks have.
 

There's never an appointment needed! Just come by during regular business hours! Leave 30 minutes time for a proper fit!