The Best Workout Shoes for Flat Feet

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The Best Workout Shoes for Flat Feet

Athletes with flat feet need special support when choosing workout shoes. Our expert explains how to pick a shoe that makes exercise pain-free for your feet.

By Betsey Stephens

Question: "I have flat feet and need shoes that will get me through a step class pain-free. What works best?"

Answer: Try cross-training or court (tennis) shoes, which are made to accommodate side-to-side movements, rather than running shoes, which are meant for forward motion, says Stephen Pribut, DPM, president of the American Academy of Podiatric Sports Medicine. You'll also want to make sure you find a shoe with plenty of support: When shopping, place the toe of the shoe on the floor with the heel pointing toward the ceiling. Press straight down on the heel. If the shoe bends in the center, it won't provide enough support, he says.

Originally published in Fitness magazine, March 2006.