Different sports activities call for specific footwear to protect feet and ankles. Sports- specific athletic shoes are a wise investment for serious athletes, though perhaps a less critical consideration for the weekend or occasional athlete; nevertheless, it’s a good idea to use the correct shoe for each sport. Probably a more important consideration is the condition of the shoe—don’t wear any sport or other shoes beyond their useful life.

Athletic footwear should be fitted to hold the foot in the position that’s most natural to the movement involved.

For example, a running shoe is built to accommodate impact, while a tennis shoe is made to give relatively more support and permit sudden stops and turns.

For sports, “cross trainers” are fine for a general athletic shoe, such as for physical education classes. But if a child is involved more heavily in any single sport, he or she should have a shoe specifically designed for that sport.