An athletic body in motion is a work of art. Finely tuned and well taken care of, it is capable of extraordinary feats. Although an athlete’s raw talent is amazing enough, that doesn’t dissipate the constant pressure to perform. Each sport is unique in regards to what is required for competition, right down to the shoe. Track spikes, soccer cleats, and basketball shoes all serve their purpose to intensify each athlete from the ground up. Since these are fairly common sports, everyone knows the basic mission of each shoe. Recently, The Sport of Fitness and Olympic weightlifting are sweeping the nation in popularity. Olympic weightlifting shoes are now being paraded around everywhere, but do you really know why you should own a pair?
If you’re unfamiliar with weightlifting shoes, I’m going to keep it cut and dry so there’s no confusion. Basically, if you want to lift to your true capacity, I would suggest giving these shoes a whirl. The concept is simple: more stability corresponds to a better lift. Old Soviet models of the shoe had just a wooden heel, which was very difficult to maneuver without slipping on the weightlifting platform. But they were on to something; through trial and error, the heel was eventually coated in rubber. The wooden heel allows you to drive more into the ground, allowing you to consistently exert more force into the lift. Shoes with a compressible heel won’t allow this since they are designed for shock absorption. Oh yeah, don’t use these shoes for anything else!
Let’s talk a bit more about this heel situation. While most heels for lifting shoes run between 0.5” to 1”, they all entertain the same function: muscle activation. We all know (or at least should know) that the power generated for Olympic lifts is from the hips. Our lower extremity is packed full of large, powerful muscles waiting to be used. The heel of the weightlifting shoe allows us to use these muscles to their maximum potential by allowing a deeper squat position with a vertical torso. Ankle mobility is also increased, so the combination of deep squat, vertical torso, and ankle position equates to a stronger pull. A stronger pull = stronger lift. A vertical torso also solidifies both the front rack and overhead position.
Just as a reminder, weightlifting shoes will not magically cure your mobility problems. Yes, the shoes will allow a deeper squat and improve ankle mobility. If you can’t squat without the shoes, however, you better invest a lot of time into working on achieving a full range of motion. Rome wasn’t built in a day, and wearing football cleats will not give you a shot at the NFL.
It’s awesome when complex biomechanics are put in simple terms. All kidding aside, weightlifting shoes are a fundamental part of becoming a better lifter. Increased stability plus an elevated heel means more power and better positions/leverage. As I stated earlier, every sport has requirements for proper performance. If you’re ready to become a weightlifter, motivated to train harder, and dream of lifting heavy to your potential, do yourself a favor and get the shoes.