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Flexibility

In the shoe industry, the term flexibility refers to the radius at which the ball and sole of the shoe is able to bend to accommodate the movement of the foot. The more the shoe is able to bend, the more flexible the shoe is considered to be. Flexibility is a key component a consumer should look for when buying an athletic, athleisure or casual shoe. It is important for the shoe to be able to bend with the foot so that the wearer can move naturally while participating in sports or while running. Flexibility is what allows the shoe and the foot inside to move as one. Shoe styles such as wedges, open-toed sandals and high heels not intended for physical activity will have little or no flexibility. In this case, the lack of flexibility actually aids in the support of your foot. Athletic shoes and other casual style shoes are usually made with a rubber sole, which makes them initially more flexible than a shoe made with a wooden or plastic sole.

The more flexible a shoe is, the larger the radius of movement in the ball of the shoe will be. You should make sure that the shoe is not overly flexible for the activity in which you plan to wear it, especially if you have the tendency to overpronate. If the shoe is too flexible, meaning it bends whichever way the foot does, it will not be able to offer the stability or support the foot needs. An over-flexible shoe can even cause injury in some cases because the foot is more likely to rotate unnaturally during physical activity which could injure the ankle and/or leg.