The best running sneakers for flat feet

If you have flat feet, you need to look for a specialized shoe to protect your feet and body during a run. Here's what you need to know.

Having flat feet means you have a complete or near-complete lack of an arch in your feet. The key to finding the right shoe is stability and support.

• If you’re a flat-footed runner, than chances are good you’re also a runner who over-pronates, meaning your feet (and ankles, knees and hips) will all be grateful when you provide more control and cushion underneath your soles.
• Without that support, it’s common for your arch to collapse in, which can cause injury.

Your foot arch is a natural shock absorption system. When your body weight is placed on your foot, it’s your arch that absorbs this to alleviate the impact that would otherwise hit your feet, ankles, knees and hips.

• People with flat feet have collapsed arches, which means their ankles twist inward and their knees overcompensate.
• Runners should be particularly concerned about flat feet because during running, the arch is supposed to support about three times their body weight.

In the past 20 years, many major athletic shoe brands developed specific technologies aimed at helping runners with flat feet run in comfort and safety. The key words you have to remember are: stability, support and motion control.

• Support is what a flat foot runner needs. When looking at shoes reviews or technical specifications, any indication of added support means you are headed in the right direction.
• Stability is an industry standard term that categorizes running shoes aimed at helping overpronation: every brand has their own collection of stability running Shoes.
• Motion Control are stability shoes for the most severe overpronators: they include the solutions of stability shoes and focus in enhancing them.
• The main technology found in Stability shoes is a medial post of dual density foam.
• Footwear producers inject a harder compound of foam right below the medial side of the arch and sometimes extended all the way to the heel.
• It is easily recognizable as a darker (almost always grey) piece of foam on the inside of the midsole.

Having flat feet doesn't have to stop you from enjoying a run and keeping your body safe. Take a little extra time to look out for the right shoes and you'll be moving comfortably in no time.