What shoes should I wear in the gym?
With the Covid-19 restrictions being gradually eased in South Australia, gyms will be one of the facilities reopening.
I’ve had several clients wanting to discuss and express their joy of getting back to an activity they love.
One thing I’ve noticed is that people are unaware what they should wear on their feet, to keep themselves safe and performing at their best.
Is it ok to wear a running shoe to the gym?
Running shoes are designed to be breathable & durable.
They offer EVA midsoles maximising cushioning to reduce shoe weight while increasing the shock absorption ability.
The base of the shoe often has a waffle pattern for traction. 
Running shoes are designed to be breathable & durable
They may include special features to offer extra support or cushioning for multiple terrains
A running shoe is fine to wear in the gym if you are doing cardio, machined weights or upper body strength work.
What other types of footwear do you recommend for gym workouts?
Another type of shoe worn in gyms is a weightlifting/crossfit shoe. 
Weightlifting /Crossfit shoes
They are designed with an elevated heel, a very solid wide grippy base, and tight fixtures.
All of these features help improve posture, assist with mobility, increase your sense of safety and stability.
This type of footwear is perfect for olympic/compound movements, functional exercises or unilateral lifts.
These shoes can be quite uncomfortable as leisure wear due to their stiff tight nature, so it is advisable to wear your runners to the gym, and keep these in your gym bag.
Especially if you need to dash into the supermarket after your workout.
I stopped exercising during the gym closure, is there anything else I should know or do?
1. Stretching
Before every workout do some stretching and even a 5-10 minute treadmill walk to get the body warmed up and ready for exercise.
2. Gradually increase intensity
It’s important to know that muscle can become deconditioned rather quickly.
This deconditioning can lead to overload damage if you immediately return to exactly what you were doing prior to the closure.
Setting yourself for a gradual graded return is your best approach.
Reduce the weight and work your way back up over several weeks to give your body time to readjust.
3. Remain positive and seek help if required
If you do find yourself with a lower limb injury or pain resulting from your gym return, don’t become demotivated.
Remain positive and seek assistance from a podiatrist.
We can assess your lower limb pain, find it’s cause, and develop an individualised management plan to get you back loving your workout.
Call us on 8330 0004 or Book Online
Yours in helping to build amazing lives from the feet up,
Administrator
Complete Podiatry