Should i use weightlifting shoes

Some people think the feet should be flat on the ground. Others believe the heel should be slightly elevated. Those who believe in elevating the heel often choose running or weightlifting shoes.

Running shoes and weightlifting shoes are two different things. At first glance, weightlifting shoes appear to be the better choice. Running shoes are also cushioned, and absorb energy when exercising. If you lift weights, you want to redirect as much energy as possible during the movement vertically.

The ideal lifting shoe should be hard with a raised heel, as this comes in handy with exercises such as squats and deadlifts. The differences in cushioning, shape, and construction between weightlifting shoes and other kinds of footwear produce a different result when wearing the weightlifting shoes. Scientific studies can show exactly what kinematic differences will manifest when wearing either type of shoe.

The study participants randomly switched between running shoes and an unnamed brand of weightlifting shoes. I have even seen people change shoes in the middle of a workout. Is all this truly necessary? Believe it or not, what we put on our feet can improve our performance.

There are shoes for almost every sport, heck even golf has their own shoes. Most shoes are sports specific; the company designs the shoe around the type of athlete they are marketing too.

The first company to create them was Otomix. These shoes were popular when bodybuilders wore those big bright pajama type pants. As styles and trends changed so did the face of lifting shoes. Wrestling shoes and converse were the big names for lifting for a bit. Shortly after this Vibram designed a shoe that mimicked being barefoot called the Five Finger.

Very similar to a water shoe but was designed for mostly runners. The game totally changed with Reebok and Crossfit. Reebok capitalized on the deal signing a contract with Crossfit. They designed a hard sole shoe specifically for lifting. The hard sole allows the athlete to have a better base of support. Adadias and Nike created their own version of a lifting shoe.

Fall is here and gyms are back, so it's only fitting that you look the part. From Ice baths to foot massagers, these products will help your body recover quicker. Topics: Bodybuilders Bodybuilding Build Muscle. Written by Anthony Bevilacqua. Also by Anthony Bevilacqua. Thank you for signing up. The hard sole allows the person to generate more force from the feet when he pushes against the resistance. The raised heel allows the lifter to squat deeper and enables him to keep his body upright.

In the case of flat feet, lifting shoes prevents the unnecessary pronation of the feet which not only affects the force generation but also puts the ankle joint into an unsafe zone. In case of deadlifts, even a flat sole shoe will suffice. This is the reason you might find some lifters performing barefoot deadlifts. From a footwear perspective, regular Converse all stars work like a charm.

When we perform lifts wearing running shoes, compressive pressure in the form of resistance, squeezes its sole and therefore it affects the amount of force being generated by the lifter from the ground up. The soft sole of the running shoe absorbs some amount of force and even affects the ankle joint stability.

On the other hand, the hard soles of lifting shoes, allows the lifter to maintain ankle stability and optimum force generation. CrossFit is the rage right now. As a result, companies have launched made-for-CrossFit shoes.

These shoes allow a lifter to both run and lift, wearing the same shoe. The sole of a CrossFit shoe is neither too hard like that of a weightlifting shoe, nor is it as soft as a regular running shoe. A pair of CrossFit shoes are ideal for a short distance run as well as compound lifting sessions in the box. If you are a professional lifter who regularly trains at RMs, then investing in lifting shoe makes sense.

However, if you perform major compound lifts once in a while, and are still struggling to correct your form, then you do not need them at the moment. You should first focus on mastering your form and technique with regular footwear. If you can spend a little more, then a pair of CrossFit shoes will be a good fit.