Picking the right shoe is one of the most important decisions you will make when it comes to proper workout gear. Do the shoes you exercise in really impact your health? YES!

Your footwear selection carries so much weight because you could be just steps away from preventing an injury. Wearing the wrong shoe can lead to plantar fasciitis, heel spurs, arthritis and even runner's knee (just to name a few).  

Here are some steps to follow when deciding on the right shoe. 

1. Know your foot type

• Supinator (feet roll outward) - you'll know if your old shoes are worn out on the outer ridge of the shoe
• Neutral - you'll know if your old shoes are evenly worn out in the center
• Pronator (feet roll inward) - you'll know if your old shoes are worn out on the inside of the sole  

2. Match your shoe to your foot type

• For Supinators: you need cushioning for shock absorption.
• For Neutrals: you need stability or moderate stability sneakers for balance and support. You basically have the option to wear which ever sneaker feels best on your feet.
• For Pronators: you need motion-control or high-stability sneakers.    

3. Determine what style of shoe you need  

• If you walk or jog, go with running shoes. They are engineered for heel-to-toe motion.
• If you do aerobics, kick-boxing, weight training or any exercise that involves lateral motion, go with cross-trainers.
• Walking shoes are fine for walking but it is better to go with running shoes because they are built to last longer.    

So the next time you make a trip to buy some new kicks, make sure you know what to look for to prevent injury and make the most out of your workouts.