"It gives you an idea of the shape of your foot, which is part of what you need to know to find the right shoe," says Mindy Solkin, owner of The Running Center in New York City. "It's one piece of information, but not the only piece of information." You should also have a coach or other knowledgeable person watch you run to see which part of your foot hits the ground first and whether you pronate too much or too little, she says.

To take the test, wet the bottom of each foot and stand normally on a paper bag. After a minute or so, step off and observe the imprint left by your foot. (Trace the outline with a pencil if you'll want to look at it later.)

You have a normal arch if:
There's a distinct curve along the inside of your foot with a band a little less than half the width of your foot connecting the heel and toe. Look for stability shoes with few, if any, motion-control properties.

You have a low arch (flat feet) if:
There's not much of a curve along the inside of your foot and your imprint shows almost the entire foot. People with low arches are more likely to overpronate (roll too far inward), which can lead to overuse injuries. Look for motion-control shoes, those built with devices to limit how much your foot pronates.

You have a high arch if:
There's a very sharp curve along the inside of your foot and your imprint shows a very thin band between your heel and toe. People with high arches typically don't pronate enough. Look for cushioned shoes built to let your feet pronate as much as possible to prevent injury.

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