While you may be having a lot of fun during a Zumba® Fitness class, your knees and feet may be asking you for a break.

To get an even better experience and to protect your joints and your health, it’s important to wear the right sneakers. There are at least three things to keep in mind when selecting the sneakers for a class: they should offer you the support you need, they should allow you easy-flowing movement (lateral, medial, twisting motions) and they should NOT have a lot of tread at the bottom.

Everyone needs a different kind of support from their sneakers. Your feet should feel snug but supported in the arch and the heel. If your sneakers feel comfortable but not very supportive, you can wear insoles. Try on different kinds of sneakers to feel the difference.  We even do some Zumba moves on the floor of the store to try them out before purchasing them.

If you notice knee pain after your class or you feel like your feet get stuck performing some of the movements, your sneakers might be to blame . During a Zumba® Fitness class you will perform lateral moves and need sneakers that allow you to do that comfortably. Most running shoes are designed for forward-motion so you may feel difficulty to go laterally or to twist. Also, walking shoes have a lot of tread and will keep your feet from moving further.

This is why the best shoes for a Zumba® Fitness class are shoes that do not offer a lot of tread at the bottom, like cross-trainers or dance-specific sneakers. Some of the best sneakers for class have a circle that allows you to pivot easily:

If you don’t own the best sneakers for a Zumba Fitness Class and are not ready to invest in some, don’t worry! You can still come to class and enjoy it. Protect your knees by picking up your feet, make sure not to lock your knees and keep them in line with your toes. Be safe and have fun!

Until next time, keep on dancing!

Angelica

P.S.:  You can find Zumba footwear specially designed for Zumba® Fitness in their website:  www.Zumba.com