Cecilia Gordon Kane can cancel her gym membership.

Or so the claims of her new athletic shoes may lead her to believe. By just walking in her sneakers, the Marietta woman supposedly will receive a complete workout: burned calories, strengthened muscles and toned legs, core and back.

RENEE' HANNANS HENRY/AJC (ENLARGE)

Cecilia Gordon Kane of Marietta walks in the rocker-soled Chung Shi shoes she purchased at Foot Solutions. If she loses weight, she may get a store credit.

American College of Sports Medicine (ENLARGE)

One good way to choose a shoe is based on the arch of your foot. Image reflect three basic types.

Photos: Check out "healthy" shoes What your imprint says The shape of your foot determines what type of shoe you need. Put your old shoes on a table and examine them from behind. If your shoe tilts to the inside, you may overpronate (low arch). If your shoe tilts outward, you may have a high arch. Or, take this simple test to identify your arch: Moisten your foot with water and stand on any surface that will leave an imprint. Normal arch: leaves an imprint that has a flare but shows forefront and heel connected by a wide band. A normal foot lands on the outside of the heel, then rolls inward (pronates) slightly to absorb shock. Best recommendation: stability shoe. Low arch: Flat feet leave a nearly complete imprint of the sole of the foot, indicating an overpronated foot that strikes on the outside of the heel and rolls inward excessively. Best recommendation: motion-control shoe. High arch: leaves an imprint showing a very narrow band connecting the forefront and the heel; foot doesn't pronate enough and not a good shock absorber. Best recommendation: cushioned shoe. Source: American College of Sports Medicine Related health articles: Study: Clozapine may have saved schizophrenics  Obesity a risk factor in swine flu?  Study: 1918 flu survivors seem immune to swine flu  Fall swine flu: Obama urges vigilance, not panic  Swine flu shots at school: Bracing for fall return  Topics: Atlanta hospitals | Weight loss | CDC | Cancer | Swine Flu Back to Health news DOCTOR IS IN Why worry? THINNER YOU Lose weight. Together.

"I felt like it would be an investment in me because I needed to get moving," said Kane, who bought a pair of Chung Shi shoes after reading product claims and celebrity testimonials in magazines. The rocker-bottom shoes cost upward of $240 at Foot Solutions, a local retailer backing the claims by offering its customers a store credit of $4 per pound lost while wearing the shoes this summer.

With a slew of products, shoe manufacturers are touting health benefits such as cured back pain, improved posture and diminished varicose veins. From sandals to athletics, shoes have gone high-tech with design features such as rounded soles and heels, extensive cushioning and contoured shapes to mimic walking barefoot.

The sheer abundance of shoes and their accompanying claims makes sorting through fact and fiction no easy feat for consumers or even industry professionals.

"It's a lot of hype and often not a lot of supported substance," said Bruce Williams, president-elect of the American Academy of Podiatric Sports Medicine, who equated the claims to those of energy drinks. "While there may be some truth to the claims ... most people can do a lot better with a decent pair of running shoes or getting more active."

Whether a shoe can produce significant health benefits is questionable, agreed Mark Geil, director of biomechanics at Georgia State University, noting a lack of scientific study to confirm or deny product claims, as of yet.

"I don't think we'll ever replace the gym with a shoe, but it would be nice," he said.

'No one best shoe'

Finding the right shoe is a never-ending challenge, said Perry Julien, a podiatrist who specializes in sports-related injuries. Every foot is different, and there is not even a consensus on what the best conditions are for walking, such as soft surfaces vs. hard.

"There are probably best shoes for a given person but no one best shoe for every person," he said.

Shoes should be matched to your foot type and size, and how you plan to use the shoe, Julien said.

"People are often looking for what's new and better, but they'll find out that what's new is not always better," he added. "It's about what works best."

Get the best fit

Size matters, and about 85 percent of people are wearing shoes that are too small, according to the American College of Sports Medicine. Running shoes, in particular, need to be a half- to a full-size larger than street shoes, the college recommends.

"With your standard shoes, you can feel what fits you well," said Geil, who noted that sizes vary among brands. "You have a better sense than anyone who is fitting you."

Shoes that fit well should not be too narrow or too high, should have plenty of room, especially around the toes, and they should have some flexibility through the middle and back.

High price does not equate to high end, said Williams.

Shoes do not have to cost $250 and have all the bells and whistles, he said, citing various Dr. Scholl's styles sold at a reasonable price at Wal-Mart. The American Academy of Podiatric Sports Medicine rates various shoe brands on its Web site.

"Feet are the last thing people think about until they can't walk," said Williams of people limping in discomfort for the sake of fashion. "Your feet should not hurt; there's no reason to put up with that."

Julien agreed.

"If the shoe feels comfortable and feels good on your feet, it's more likely to inspire you to exercise and walk more," he said. "Wear it."