Are Your Shoes Sucking The Power Right Out Of You?

Okay, maybe they weren't slippers, but they were a pair of slip on, slipper-like shoes. Combined with his pajama-like pants, this guy looked ready for bed, never mind a workout.

That got me to thinking about the shoes people wear to exercise. I've seen people wearing steel-toed work boots. I've seen deck shoes. I've seen flip-flops. And I've seen slippers.

Others buy ONE pair of shoes and use them to...

• Lift weights
• Run on the treadmill
• Take a cardio bootcamp class
• Do the gardening
• Go to the amusement park
• Cut the grass
• Take out the garbage
• Walk the dog

...You get the idea.

Why You Need More Than One Pair of Shoes

If you look at a professional car mechanic's toolbox, it contains all the tools he might need to do a job properly. It certainly has more than just an adjustable wrench, a couple of screwdrivers and a hammer. Just like a mechanic, you should have footwear geared specifically to your activity.

So what type of shoe should you use?

Well that depends on your activity. If you're running, you should wear a running shoe. If you're performing a variety of speed and agility drills, you should consider wearing a cross trainer. If you want to play hoops with your buddies, a pair of basketball shoes works best. But if your goal is to lift heavy weight, then you should seriously consider getting a pair of weight lifting shoes.

As A Matter of Physics

When you perform exercises like squats, deadlifts or overhead presses, you generate force by pressing your feet into the floor. If you wear shoes with squishy mid-soles designed to absorb shock, like running shoes or cross trainers, the force you generate with your legs gets absorbed by the cushioning system in your shoes.

The result...

Your shoes suck the power out of you. You generate less power. You lift less weight. Less weight lifted means less than optimum muscle and strength development.

Even if you're not into hoisting massive weights, you can add power to your routine by choosing a shoe that has very little cushioning. Some of the more popular choices include...

• The Chuck Taylor basketball shoe
• Indoor soccer shoes
• Vibram 5-Finger shoes
• Otomix weight lifting shoes
• Indoor court shoes (volleyball, racquetball, or squash shoes)
• Construction boots
• Combat boots

Personally, I use an old pair of indoor court shoes. They keep me close to the floor and provide a snug, comfortable fit. Now when I forget to put them on and end up using my cross trainers, it just feels wrong.

What do you put on your feet to workout. I'd like to know.