Has anyone been able to find sneakers that have a pivot or something similar on the soles to allow for sliding, but also has support in the sole?  I need something with cushion as I have arthritis in my feet but can't seem to locate a shoe that offers both support/cushioning and pivoting capabilities.  Nike Musiques press down on the top of my foot, exactly where my arthritis is so I can't ever use them.

Thanks! Tracey
http://dancingdiva-tracey.blogspot.com/

Tracey, that's always been a problem. I finally bought some Ryka Transitions, and they pivot nicely (I don't wo on carpet, though). But if you have arthritis, they won't work for you , as the Rykas are a minimalist shoe. But have you looked into dance shoes? They're expensive, but they're supportive (from what my daughter tells me), and they are supposed to pivot easily, since they're made for dancers.

Oh, I just noticed you're a dancer already. You probably have checked that out already. Well, hopefully, someone will have a great suggestion.

Nike makes Dance Sneakers that are supposed to be great for those types of movements.

I was diagnosed with arthritis in my big toe last Friday, so I'm on the lookout for the right shoe as well.

Are you looking for a shoe which has a stiff sole for the whole shoe?   Or just general arch support and cushioning?  Dance sneakers provide cushioning and arch support while allowing a pivot...but with the split sole....it may not be what you are looking for.   My Bloch's dance sneakers are great for dancing and upright stuff.  They don't prevent the toes from bending.  Mine are by Bloch's.  I think most people get the leather dance sneakers.  I bought a canvas style dance sneaker because the leather ones can press on my sore toe joint.  My canvas ones never do.

I'm looking for a shoe alternative for crosstraining workouts.  I have crosstrainers...but when I do pushups and planks, the big toe is flexing too much and/or the shoe presses onto the sore joint.  The dance sneakers don't press on the joint, but they don't minimize the flex in the joint either.  I need a shoe with the features of a crosstrainer, but stiff in the forefoot.    And I have a wide foot....so that narrows the choices further.

Try taking an older pair and wrapping duct tape around the part you want to slide. Goody looking but, hey you are at home. There are a couple of workouts I use them for - Petra has one where you are going from lunge to lunge each way ant it helps in not twisting my knee because the toe won't turn fast enough and it is also good for regular pivoting. If you don't like it...the shoes were old anyway...D

Exerciseman


Try taking an older pair and wrapping duct tape around the part you want to slide. Goody looking but, hey you are at home. 

Great idea!  I've been trying to figure out some way to make pivoting moves easier, especially in salsa style dance dvd's.  I'm going to give this a try.

<message edited by boggirl on Tuesday, January 31, 2012 7:55 AM>

Eman - what a brilliant idea.

Not my idea....I think I picked it up as a lurker elsewhere....D

Honestly, I was just thinking about this after my workout today. I am a New Balance person, mainly because I have wide feet and they are the only company that makes shoes wide enough for me, with the exception, sometimes, of Avia (in some shoes).  I just got very cushiony NB cross trainers, but the support really sucks.  My foot slides over the shoe when I do lateral movements and I lose my balance. They are great for intensity drills, but not for cardio with a lot of lateral movement.  I just wish they could combine the 2. So now I use my supportive ones for step and hi/lo, cushiony for lots of jumping and weight work. 

I am tempted to just go to Kohls and buy a cheaper pair of Avias and call it a day. I am tired of spending so much money on shoes.  I'm sure they are made in China for about $5.00 and we are paying about $100.  Go figure!

Cam, you might try on the Ryka Transitions. They are very reasonable at Famous Footwear (I bought two pairs). I wear them for plyos, step, sprints, HiiT, and I have ridiculously wide feet and bunyons. I went to a lower shoe because wearing thick soled workout shoes made me unstable. I kept rolling my ankles over and had lots of problems with my knees, too.

flower child


Cam, you might try on the Ryka Transitions. They are very reasonable at Famous Footwear (I bought two pairs). I wear them for plyos, step, sprints, HiiT, and I have ridiculously wide feet and bunyons. I went to a lower shoe because wearing thick soled workout shoes made me unstable. I kept rolling my ankles over and had lots of problems with my knees, too.

Thanks Flower Child for the suggestion.   Ryka hasn't worked for me in the past, but I'll try them on again and see. If I remember correctly, they are wide in the heel and I have a narrow heel.  But it's been awhile since I tried on Rykas.

Hi! General arch support and cushioning are what I'm looking for, as well as the ability to pivot easily. I actually have dance sneakers by Bloch or one of the other dance shoe companies and they just don't have enough cushion in them.It sucks getting older! LOL Tracey
http://dancingdiva-tracey.blogspot.com/

I have a pair of those and you're right. They just don't have enough cushion in them. :-( Tracey
http://dancingdiva-tracey.blogspot.com/