Constantly purchasing new sneakers that don’t seem to feel any better than your old pair can not only get tedious, but expensive.

Your average athletic shoe starts at $60 per pair and can cost as much as $120 per pair. How often have you bought the new athletic shoe recommended to you by the sales person hoping it would cure those pesky pains you feel in your knees when walking on the treadmill? Most likely too often. If you’re like most exercisers, you have probably purchased over 15 pairs of sneakers in your lifetime that you never even wore. That’s a potential waste of $1800.

Knowing more about your feet could have saved you all that money. Quite possibly you’re just purchasing the wrong type of shoe. Knowing your feet will empower you to make an informed decision when shopping for athletic shoes. Common foot problems can be easily diagnosed. And once you know your foot you can purchase shoes designed more specifically for your foot type. For example, you may have over-pronated feet. Pronation is the rolling motion of the foot inwards. A foot that over pronates tends to turn a person’s knee to the inside. This is commonly seen in people that have flat feet, but can be seen in those without. When that happens, there is undue stress on the knee joint, causing pain. Pronation is a problem that initially affects the knee, and may not cause pain in the feet right away. Biomechanical problems associated with pronation can be very effectively treated by purchasing an athletic shoe designed for over-pronators. Try looking for a shoe at a store that specializes in athletics and has a very knowledgeable staff. All brands of athletic shoes will have a shoe made for an over-pronator, look for this information at the store.

Another way to correct more severe conditions is with custom orthotic inserts. Typically Orthotics are made at an Orthopedic Physician’s, a Physical Therapy, or a Podiatrists office and will range in cost from $200 up to $500 per pair depending on the technology involved to make them. There may be stores in your area that take a foot size and then customize a prefabricated arch support. The most advanced technology to make an orthotic is the digital gait analysis using a force plate. A force plate is a mat that is hooked up to a computer that gives data relating to pressure areas and function of the foot as it relates to the ankle, knee and hip. Early treatment can prevent much undue stress on the lower extremity, decrease symptoms, and may even improve your performance. If you are having knee pain during your exercise regimen, see your doctor and ask about the possibility of being a pronator.