What separates us from other competitive stores, both online and brick-and-mortar, is our care for fitting you in the right shoe. Our process takes you, your needs, and your goals into consideration every step of the way. Whether you are a runner, walker, or simply need something to keep your feet comfortable, you'll be right at home with OK Runner.
Regardless of what you know (or don't know) about running or running shoes, we can help guide you to the perfect shoe by using our tried-and-true fitting process developed and taught by certified pedorthist, Craig Thompson. Many of our employees are also experts in their own right as graduates in Exercise Science or Pre-Physical Therapy programs. Keep reading to learn more about how we find each customer's perfect fit!
Regardless of what you know (or don't know) about running or running shoes, we can help guide you to the perfect shoe by using our tried-and-true fitting process developed and taught by certified pedorthist, Craig Thompson. Many of our employees are also experts in their own right as graduates in Exercise Science or Pre-Physical Therapy programs. Keep reading to learn more about how we find each customer's perfect fit!
Supination and Pronation
The terms "supination" or "pronation" refer to complex, tri-planar movements of the foot. To put it in technical terms, pronation occurs when the foot is...
> dorsiflexed ("toes up")
> everted ("arches dropping")
> abducted ("toes pointed out")
...all relative to its neutral position. Supination is the opposite motion (foot plantarflexion, inversion, and adduction). Too much (or not enough) of either motion can cause issues, including tendinopathy, knee, hip, and lower back pain, plantar fasciitis, shin splints, fatigue, and cramping.
That being said, your foot can (and should) go through phases of pronation and supination with every step, and the degree to which these motions occur in a well-rounded gait can depend on a number of variables. A lot of shoe recommendations and running gait analyses are based largely on just one aspect of pronation/supination - usually eversion or inversion - and at one phase of the gait cycle - usually foot strike.
Anatomy plays a part, but isn't a guarantee of what your foot will do when loaded under the forces experienced while walking or running. High arches tend to be stiff and more susceptible to underpronation while low arches tends to be more mobile and prone to overpronation, but the truth tends to be more complex than "my arches are low, so I must overpronate" or "my arches are high, so I must need a lot of support".
Some shoe stores, websites, or "fit experts" will make a recommendation solely based on how much your arch drops, or even what your arches look like when standing, both of which fail to account for many of the complex interactions between your foot and the ground when your body is in motion. Even if you are able to accurately identify pronation and supination, it can be tough to say how much is too much - that amount can vary wildly between individuals depending on your unique anatomical and biomechanical makeup. It's made even more complicated by the fact that supination and pronation are healthy movements that are essential to good mechanics, making it a challenge to say whether you're pronating/supinating too much, not enough, or just right.
No amount of slow motion video or 3D scanning can make up for an untrained eye, but that's where we come in! Our job is to pair you up with a trained expert to identify and address any biomechanical weakness to keep you on your feet and loving every mile.
The terms "supination" or "pronation" refer to complex, tri-planar movements of the foot. To put it in technical terms, pronation occurs when the foot is...
> dorsiflexed ("toes up")
> everted ("arches dropping")
> abducted ("toes pointed out")
...all relative to its neutral position. Supination is the opposite motion (foot plantarflexion, inversion, and adduction). Too much (or not enough) of either motion can cause issues, including tendinopathy, knee, hip, and lower back pain, plantar fasciitis, shin splints, fatigue, and cramping.
That being said, your foot can (and should) go through phases of pronation and supination with every step, and the degree to which these motions occur in a well-rounded gait can depend on a number of variables. A lot of shoe recommendations and running gait analyses are based largely on just one aspect of pronation/supination - usually eversion or inversion - and at one phase of the gait cycle - usually foot strike.
Anatomy plays a part, but isn't a guarantee of what your foot will do when loaded under the forces experienced while walking or running. High arches tend to be stiff and more susceptible to underpronation while low arches tends to be more mobile and prone to overpronation, but the truth tends to be more complex than "my arches are low, so I must overpronate" or "my arches are high, so I must need a lot of support".
Some shoe stores, websites, or "fit experts" will make a recommendation solely based on how much your arch drops, or even what your arches look like when standing, both of which fail to account for many of the complex interactions between your foot and the ground when your body is in motion. Even if you are able to accurately identify pronation and supination, it can be tough to say how much is too much - that amount can vary wildly between individuals depending on your unique anatomical and biomechanical makeup. It's made even more complicated by the fact that supination and pronation are healthy movements that are essential to good mechanics, making it a challenge to say whether you're pronating/supinating too much, not enough, or just right.
No amount of slow motion video or 3D scanning can make up for an untrained eye, but that's where we come in! Our job is to pair you up with a trained expert to identify and address any biomechanical weakness to keep you on your feet and loving every mile.
Evaluation Process
Everyone has a unique gait of his or her own, and it takes a thoroughly trained eye to recognize distinguishing factors of someone's gait cycle. This is why every employee is trained by Craig Thompson, certified pedorthist and founder of Oh-Be-Joyful Orthotics, to identify and cater to your biomechanical needs.
Before we check your gait, we take a look at the natural positions of your ankles, knees, and hips, as well as the height and strength of your arches. Once you start walking, we observe the hips and look for instability, then check your knees for inward (valgus) or outward (varus) motion. Finally, we take note of any collapse in your arches and the direction of motion in your subtalar joint. Taking these into account with any history of aches, pains, or injuries you might have had, we are able to identify the perfect shoe category for you: neutral, guidance, stability, or motion control.
At OK Runner, we have crafted this process because we believe the greatest tool we have isn't necessarily slow-motion cameras, high-tech treadmills, or the latest foot pressure analyzer; it's a professional with the knowledge and experience to pinpoint problems and the compassion to get to know every customer's needs.
Everyone has a unique gait of his or her own, and it takes a thoroughly trained eye to recognize distinguishing factors of someone's gait cycle. This is why every employee is trained by Craig Thompson, certified pedorthist and founder of Oh-Be-Joyful Orthotics, to identify and cater to your biomechanical needs.
Before we check your gait, we take a look at the natural positions of your ankles, knees, and hips, as well as the height and strength of your arches. Once you start walking, we observe the hips and look for instability, then check your knees for inward (valgus) or outward (varus) motion. Finally, we take note of any collapse in your arches and the direction of motion in your subtalar joint. Taking these into account with any history of aches, pains, or injuries you might have had, we are able to identify the perfect shoe category for you: neutral, guidance, stability, or motion control.
At OK Runner, we have crafted this process because we believe the greatest tool we have isn't necessarily slow-motion cameras, high-tech treadmills, or the latest foot pressure analyzer; it's a professional with the knowledge and experience to pinpoint problems and the compassion to get to know every customer's needs.
Determining Your Perfect Fit
It's important to understand that there is no magic shoe. Some brands claim to have uncovered the secret formula or the perfect material, but every runner, walker, and athlete has their own biomechanic fingerprint (or footprint), and it's virtually impossible for one shoe to match everyone's needs. As a result, we perform a thorough analysis of your needs prior to picking what kind of shoe might suit you best. One of the most important steps in guaranteeing your status as a happy, healthy athlete is identifying which of the four categories you fall into: neutral, guidance, stability, or motion control.
It's important to understand that there is no magic shoe. Some brands claim to have uncovered the secret formula or the perfect material, but every runner, walker, and athlete has their own biomechanic fingerprint (or footprint), and it's virtually impossible for one shoe to match everyone's needs. As a result, we perform a thorough analysis of your needs prior to picking what kind of shoe might suit you best. One of the most important steps in guaranteeing your status as a happy, healthy athlete is identifying which of the four categories you fall into: neutral, guidance, stability, or motion control.
|
NEUTRAL
A neutral runner has a strong arch, healthy biomechanics, and may either supinate or pronate a small, natural amount. This doesn't indicate that you have a perfect gait, simply that there's nothing in your foot biomechanics that requires correction. |
GUIDANCE
Guidance shoes are a middle ground between neutral and stability. Athletes who need a guidance shoe might show some minor overpronation during the gait analysis, slightly low arches, or may simply prefer something less flexible than a neutral shoe. |
STABILITY/SUPPORT
A runner who needs a stability shoe most likely has low or flat arches, a history of ankle or knee pain, or biomechanical issues found during the gait analysis. This doesn't mean you're a bad athlete! Many athletes at all levels - novice to professional - require some level of stability. |
MOTION CONTROL
Motion control shoes are for athletes who need substantial correction in their foot mechanics. They provide a high level of support; as a result they are generally the firmest and heaviest shoes. This may be necessary to encourage healthy biomechanics. |
After determining your ideal category, we take your personal preferences into account. What brands have you had success with in the past? Do you want a shoe that feels like a cloud, or something that lets you feel the ground beneath you? Do you want something that feels like it springs you forward every step, or would you rather have something plush that you can sink into? What feels best on your foot? We want to find a shoe that feels comfortable from the moment you lace up to the last mile of your long run. And of course, we let your feedback and experience with each shoe guide the final decision - once you're in the right category, the best shoe is usually whatever feels the most comfortable!
Now that you know what to expect and understand our fitting process, you can have faith that you are getting nothing but the best when shopping at OK Runner. Visit either of our locations in OKC or Norman, and experience our expertise first hand!