Originally Posted by
CbadRider
Some people have the genetic ability to run barefoot without any support. If you can run barefoot without pain and injury, that's great. The rest of us need some sort of support.
There are a couple of shoe stores in my neighborhood that cater to runners. The employees are all runners and they won't sell you a pair of shoes unless you put them on and run around the parking lot while they observe your form. They also give you 30 days to exchange your shoes if they don't work out.
OP, if your current shoes are causing pain, try a new pair. Find a store that will work with you to get shoes that won't cause you pain.
There is not a single peer reviewed scientific study that has shown that running shoes PREVENT injury, or that "support" somehow prevents injuries. However, there are many studies that show that heavily padded shoes make you hit the ground harder, and shoes with a lot of ramp angle encourage heel striking, which can increase the impact of running 7x times. You don't need fancy support, you don't need motion control heels, and all that crap. If you don't land on your heels as your primary means of running, you don't need all that jazz. It's a matter of proper running form, and most shoes are built to make you run in an unnatural way.