Of Running Shoes and Weak Ankles: Mercy’s Dr. Clifford Jeng Offers Insights

Clifford L. Jeng, M.D., FAAOS, Medical Director of The Institute for Foot and Ankle Reconstruction at Mercy and an award-winning foot and ankle surgeon, recently responded to questions regarding foot/ankle issues from Men’s Journal and The EveryGirl.com. Here are his responses:

Why do your shoes matter?
Shoes are your main physical interaction with the world around you when you are upright. They protect your feet from trauma or injury and under certain circumstances can improve your performance.

Why do you need to wear a specific pair of shoes for running?
Running is actually a pretty violent and potentially dangerous thing to do to your body. The right running shoe can provide cushioning from the impact of heel strike and can improve traction to prevent you from slipping or falling. Running shoes can also help control how your foot progresses along the ground from heel strike to toe off.

How do I find the right running shoes for me?
This has a lot to do with your foot shape and alignment, body size, and the type of running you will be doing. It is probably best to go to a specialty running store where they have a treadmill and sometimes even a video camera to evaluate you to get the best shoe for you.

How do I know my running shoe size?
Our feet get larger as we age. You should go to the shoe store at the end of the day when your feet are the most swollen and have them size your feet on the metal contraption.

When should I replace my running shoes?
Running shoe companies recommend changing your shoes after 400 to 500 miles of running. If you run around 10 miles per week that means you should get new running shoes once per year. Another trick is to look at the side of the midsole near the heel. When the white cushioning part, called EVA foam, starts to show linear wrinkles in it, then it is time to think about getting new shoes.

What are the benefits of shoes for ankle support?
Hi top shoes with lacing are helpful for people who have ankle instability. When people lace the high tops tight, it can act similar to an ankle brace.

How should you choose the right shoe with ankle support for you?
If you have ankle stability, choose high top sneakers, hiking, shoes, or work boots. Otherwise, for people with ankle stability, where they turn their ankles frequently they would benefit from sneakers that have a wide base that can act like an outrigger on a canoe and prevent the ankle from turning inwards or spraining.

What are the benefits of shoes for ankle support?
Hi top shoes with lacing are helpful for people who have ankle instability. When people lace the high tops tight, it can act similar to an ankle brace.

How should you choose the right shoe with ankle support for you?
If you have ankle stability, choose high top sneakers, hiking, shoes, or work boots. Otherwise, for people with ankle stability, where they turn their ankles frequently they would benefit from sneakers that have a wide base that can act like an outrigger on a canoe and prevent the ankle from turning inwards or spraining.

What is the best way to support a weak ankle?
By wearing an ankle brace and going to physical therapy to train the muscles to react quicker to protect the ankle from turning.

Do shoes provide good ankle support?
Only high top shoes that go above the ankle can reliably provide ankle support.

Are high top sneakers better for ankle support?
Yes.

How do you help weak ankles (Exercises, Strength Training, Wraps, Shoes, Etc.)?
The best treat of the week ankles is physical therapy and bracing. If that fails, then you may be a candidate for surgical reconstruction while we tighten the loose ankle ligaments.

Dr. Jeng has been recognized as a "Top Doctor" by Baltimore magazine multiple times. Board Certified by the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery and an active member of the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society, Dr. Jeng has specialized training in advanced surgical techniques, including minimally invasive surgery and arthroscopy. Dr. Clifford Jeng established the prestigious Foot and Ankle Fellowship program at Mercy and has trained peers and elite orthopedic surgeons.