Since gradeschool I have been an overpronated child, that is, I have flat feet.  My father, a podiatrist, easily diagnosed me when my bare-feet hit the ground and there was little arch in sight.  Next came casting and orthotics, which I was told would prove to be beneficial in the long-run. Having worked at a podiatric office since I was little, Ive caught on to bits and pieces of information concerning different foot types and the importance of knowing them.  Growing up I have been involved in track and field and cross country which has made foot health and shoe comfort extra important to me.  When shopping for a shoe I have learned to not focus on style and brand like many of my peers, but rather on my needs.  Many, however, do not look past the new fashion, and would benefit greatly if they did.

After research and professional expertise I concluded that there were three basic foot types:  overpronated, supinated, and normal feet.  Foot problems are no joke, and going to the store to just pick a fashionable shoe can be eventually be detremental when the stylish shoe begins to be bothersome.  If a person knows their personal foot type, they can match it with the appropriate shoe.  These three original foot types directly affected the construction of the three common types of shoes:  motion control, stability, and cushioning.  But, how can a regular person easily determine their foot type without having to get it professionally assessed, many may wonder.  If I were find out the most convienient and efficient way to determine foot type, and further, how to match it with a compatible shoe, I could use this knowledge to assess other peoples feet and make recommendations based on my research and experimentation.  By having the shoe that fits their personal biomechanical needs, each person I assess could benefit in having fewer lower-extremity problems that build up over time from deformitites in the foot and negligence to these handicaps, clearly beneficial to everyone inovolved.