Picking the right shoes for basketball

With the NBA season heading into playoffs and the VJBL/ Big V season kicking off, there are a number of questions as to what basketball shoes are the best, for getting your champion through the season injury free.

Basketball is beginning to become very popular worldwide, increasing a number of different brands with different shoe designs and styles. So we have put together a guide for what to look for in basketball shoes, to answer those burning questions to help you reach the peak of your performance and be able play as elite athletes, such as Lebron James or Michael Jordan.

Basketball is a sport that involves repetitive movements of running, jumping, sprinting, and multi-directional footwork. Therefore it is important correct footwear is worn to protect your feet and to prevent injury. Basketball shoes should typically be made up of a number of different features to ensure the correct support is being provided.

Below is an outline of what features we like to look for in basketball shoes at our studio:

• Fits well, wide toe box, toes don't touch the end of the shoe and the shoe isn't tight 
• Lightweight, breathable and durable materials
• Support under the arch of the foot and back of the heel to provide foot and ankle stability
• Cushioning to allow for shock absorption and to provide comfort
• Adequate grip under the soles to reduce slipping and increase traction
• Flexible for your foot to bend at the toes/forefoot to promote natural biomechanical movements
• Laces to hold your foot in place

Basketball shoes break down and lose their structural integrity and support easily due to the forces of stress from sprinting, jumping and twisting. Therefore basketball shoes should be replaced frequently, roughly every 500-800 kms or 65 total hours of running.

One of the biggest questions we get asked at the studio about basketball shoes is; What is better high or low cut? When comparing High top vs low cut basketball shoes there are a number of factors to consider when making that all important decision. Research studies completed have discovered there is no direct benefit from the height of the shoe collar. Although high top shoes has shown to slightly increase ankle support, they tend to be heavier and reduce full ankle range of motion. Low cut shoes have shown to reduce ankle support but tend to be lighter and improve ankle range of motion.

Therefore there is no right or wrong answer when purchasing high or low collar shoes, the decision is up to you whether you want more ankle support, increased mobility through your ankle, a heavier or a lighter shoe.

Book in today with one of our friendly podiatrists at Undefeeted Podiatry for further advice about basketball shoes, injury prevention and any other concerns about your feet or ankles while playing basketball.