Best Running Shoes to Prevent Stress Fractures

Article Last Updated: Sat, December 1, 2024

On the hunt for the best running shoes to prevent stress fractures and avoid traumas?

Well, one effective solution to minimize the risk of sustaining such a dreadful injury is choosing the correct type of shoes that’ll provide you with enough support and comfort to actually steer you away from harm’s way while enjoying a healthy run.

Today, thanks to our carefully formed reviews and detailed buying guide, we’ll be helping you find the best running shoes to prevent stress fractures.

So let’s not waste any time and get started!

5 Best Running Shoes to Prevent Stress Fractures

How does Running Cause Stress Fractures?

According to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, stress fractures are caused by a number of reasons usually related to poor conditioning and equipment.

If you run for the sake of adding some physical activity to your daily routine, then suddenly upping the rate or intensity of your exercise can cause you to sustain stress fractures.

This is also likely to happen for athletes who decide to extend the duration of their runs, for example, in preparation to join competitions or returning back after a period of less training.

Additionally, stress fractures are the result of applying repeated pressure on bones, that’s not high enough to cause a fracture from a single blow.

This continuous exposure will eventually lead to sustaining a small bone crack or severe bruising within a bone, accompanied by immense pain.

Wearing flimsy, improper, or worn-out shoes can greatly contribute to the formation of stress fractures, mainly because such shoes have probably lost their ability to absorb shocks and provide stability while running.

How to Pick Running Shoes to Prevent Stress Fractures?

Now that you know how faulty shoes can cause you pain and possibly stop you from running for months, it’s time for you to find the best running shoes to prevent stress fractures. The following are some important criteria for such shoes:

Padding or Cushioning

Padding is perhaps the most valuable feature in any running shoes to avoid a stress fracture.

Since cushioning is how a shoe retains its capacity to absorb shocks resulting from the repetitive motion of running, then it makes sense for you to seek shoes with adequate padding.

Good running shoes offer generous cushioning in the heel and forefoot regions, without adding too much overall weight that they slow you down.

Heel to Toe Drop

The term “drop” in shoes refers to the difference between the measurements of the material under the heel and forefoot.

To put it in simple words, a shoe’s drop is how much lower your toes are in comparison to your heel.

Generally, running shoes will include more of the padding material under the heel region because it’s where the majority of stress is applied as heels typically hit the ground first before the rest of the feet.

During strides, you want to better encourage the distribution of pressure, where the front and middle sections of your foot come in contact with the ground before the heel, thus minimizing excessive striking of one particular area.

To achieve such uniformity, you should pick running shoes with a drop that’s not too high, something around 8 to 12 millimeters should be fine.

Comfortable Fit

Have you ever tried to run in shoes that are too big or too small?

Well, I had the unfortunate luck to experience both situations and let me tell, it was the worst!

Not only was it super inconvenient to have to slow down my pace because I couldn’t lift my feet freely, but it also got extremely painful after a short while since I had stress hit my feet at all the wrong places.

Had I chosen to continue my daily runs in either one of the poorly fitting shoes, there’s no doubt I’d have sustained an injury, most likely a stress fracture.

Choosing running shoes with a correct fit is how you avoid such unpleasant scenarios.

Your shoes shouldn’t be too large that you keep hitting the back of your feet and toes against their material, however, it should allow about one-thumb width to provide your feet with enough room to spread while running.

Similarly, you don’t want shoes that are too tight to the point they’re pinching and constricting.

Instead, look for a suitable size that comfortably wraps around your foot and makes you feel centered.

Types of Running

Finally, you want to take a moment and think about the kind of running you’ll be doing so you can pick the most suitable shoes accordingly.

For example, if you’re a ‘daily morning run’ type of person, then everyday running shoes are your safest bet as they offer more versatility and adequate durability.

However, if you often find yourself running on dirt and sloped terrain, you’ll need trail running shoes that feature lug soles for enhanced traction and stability.

Wrap Up

Choosing the best running shoes to prevent stress fractures can get a bit confusing, however, our buying tips and list of the top 5 products will surely help you land the perfect pair.

That being said, if you’re looking for top-notch quality with incredible support and cushioning, then the Brooks Adrenaline GTS 19 Running Shoes should be right up your alley.

But if you want shoes that are more stylish while offering impressive stability and comfort, then you should totally check out the Saucony Cohesion 10 Running Shoe.