What really matters when choosing an athletic shoe, according to experts
(CNN)Not all that long ago, people owned one generic pair of gym shoes, which they used for all sports and activities. Those days are long gone. Athletic footwear is a $16 billion business in the United States today. That figure is expected to grow rapidly over the next few years, as Americans buy multiple pairs of athletic shoes designed for different activities. But is it really necessary to have a closetful of sneakers, or is this all just marketing hype?
"All activities and sports require care in choosing specific shoes," said Dr. Bradley Schaeffer, a podiatrist and foot and ankle surgeon at New York City's Sole Podiatry. "You have to provide proper support to avoid creating or exacerbating conditions such as bunions, hammertoes, plantar fasciitis and ingrown toenails."
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