Avoid some serious pain and raise your game by checking out the best shoes for several sports below.

  • Basketball, Tennis, and Volleyball
    • Common foot injuries: sprains, stress fractures, tendinitis
    • The appropriate footwear should:
      • Have a thick, stiff sole that provides support for impact.
      • Have high ankle construction that supports the ankle during quick changes in direction. ( For Basketball)
      • Be lighter, have less midsole support, and contain a sole more responsive to quick starts and stops (For Volleyball).
  • Soccer
    • Common foot injuries: ankle sprains, turf toe, ingrown toenails, Sever’s disease
    • The appropriate footwear should:
      • Have a good-quality footbed, which can help provide proper support for the arch and user’s foot type.
      • Feature the stud type for the ground that will be played on most often: soft, hard, firm, or turf.
      • Use molded rubber cleats rather than the screw-on variety.
  • Football and Lacrosse
    • Common foot injuries: turf toe, Achilles tendinitis, ankle sprains
    • The appropriate footwear should:
      • Have a good amount of high ankle support. This support is especially important for linemen and other players who make frequent lateral movements during play.
      • Allow for proper traction on a grassy field, in both wet and dry conditions.
      • Never be hand-me-downs; ill-fitting cleats increase the risk of ankle injuries.
  • Baseball and Softball
    • Common foot injuries: sprains, stress fractures, plantar fasciitis, tendinitis
    • The appropriate footwear should:
      • Offer support to prevent arch pain, which frequently affects catchers. Customized shoe inserts called orthoses may help alleviate the pain.
      • Not include metal baseball spikes for athletes younger than 13.
      • Try multi-cleats for children ages 11–15 to avoid heel pain.
  • Running
    • Common foot injuries: plantar fasciitis, shin splints, stress fractures, Morton’s neuroma.
    • The appropriate footwear should:
      • Provide shock absorption to help runners avoid injury. Running shoes are made for high-impact forward motion and should not be used for sports with lateral movement.
      • Match your foot’s arch type (high, medium, low). A podiatric physician can measure your feet and let you know what type to look for.
      • Be replaced after 600–800 miles of running or walking, or every 6–8 months.

Sport-specific shoes can really affect the way you play. Make sure to have your feet professionally measured by your podiatrist to find a correctly sized shoe. If you participate in a certain sport at least two to three times a week, you should wear a sport-specific shoe. Your shoes should never cause you pain and if that’s the case, request an appointment with one of our doctors today!

Cornerstone Foot & Ankle is a full-service foot and ankle specialty office with locations in Sewell, Cherry Hill, Marlton, Mt. Holly, and Glassboro; serving the South Jersey region. We offer a full suite of services including surgery, fracture care, fungal nail care, diabetic foot care, pediatric podiatry, custom braces, and orthotics, wound care, limb salvage, and treatments for arch pain, heel pain, and sports injuries; just to name a few. If it hurts below your knee, we can help you!  CALL NOW or request your appointment online TODAY!

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