In today’s society no one has time anymore to stop and smell the roses or to tie up their laces. Running sneakers on today’s market are not indestructible and even if you buy a good pair doesn’t mean they will last longer if you abuse them. It is important when you buy sneakers to untie and retie the laces every single time you take them off and put them on. Forcing your foot into a laced up shoe even if it is tied up loosely will damage the heel of the shoe as well as stretch the sneaker beyond its natural shape. When properly fitted the heel of the sneaker should fit snug around your heel and should feel secure when you run in them. If when you run your heel slips up and down then you may need to tie your sneakers more securely and do them up to the very last eyelet.

Many problems can occur if sneakers are not laced properly because the foot can still move forward or sideways inside the sneaker. Issues such as Plantars fasciitis and even Achilles tendonitis can potentially be avoided if your sneakers are tied properly.  Sneaker lines such as Asics, New Balance, and Saucony have different components built into them so that when the sneakers are tied securely it draws the arch of the sneaker into the arch of the foot.  The moral of the story: if you tie your sneakers up nice and secure your feet will thank you in the long run.

Giles Littlejohn

Certified Kinesiologist and Shoe specialist

If you have any questions or inquiries about this article, Giles can be contacted at:

Orthopedic Solutions

1 Anderson Avenue

St. John’s, NL

A1B 3E1

W: (709) 739-6565