Articles written by Devin Sherrington about health, wellness and fitness in regular column called Fit to Be Tried in the Daily News:

The Daily News - Fit to Be Tried by Devin Sherrington

As you dig into your closet looking for those trusty old gym shoes, consider a few things first. Sure you've had a lot of good times together, but maybe its time to retire them. A New Year for most people should mean new gym shoes.

Shin splints, pinched nerves, blisters. All of these common foot problems are often caused by one thing. Your shoes.

I have to confess -- I usually just buy what fits, but I've had a sore toe lately and I thought maybe my sneakers were part of the problem. So I did some research.

Here's some useful tips to buying good sneakers.

Do the shoes fit properly?

Try on the shoes at the store. Run in place. Jump up and down, and side to side. You may feel goofy, but it'll pay off. If they aren't comfortable in the store, guaranteed they won't be comfortable at the gym.

Your shoe should have a removable insole, firm not soft. The insole is part of what protects your foot from the pounding of running or walking. It should be firm to give you plenty of support for your arches. Firm insoles also reduce stress on your knees.

Check to see if the heel of the shoe is stiff. The heel needs to be stiff to provide your foot with support while you're exercising. If the heel is soft your foot will move around and you'll likely get blisters in no time.

Make sure the shoes are not too narrow. If you have broad feet like I do, you'll want to make sure your feet are not squeezed in too tight. This is not only painful, but can lead to serious foot problems down the road.

Change your insole or your shoes at least once every six months. Think of your pillow. After a while it gets flat from the weight of your head. The same thing happens to your trusty sneakers.

Are they right for the type of exercise you want to do?

There are all kinds of shoes out there, so knowing which one is right for your activity can be tough. Ask an expert. Good sports stores can fit you with the right shoe for the right sport.

Cross trainers are good for short running, and playing sports. They have lots of lateral support to help with side-to-side movement, and less cushioning.

Runners are made for straight ahead distance running. They have lots of cushion but very little lateral support. This makes them excellent for distance running, but terrible for sports like basketball.

Tell the sales people what you plan to do in your shoes. Again, if the shoe is not comfortable don't buy it. Really good sneakers do not have to be broken in.

Put your best, healthiest foot forward this year. Not only will you enjoy exercising more, your feet will thank you for it.