Our natural
gait cycle inherently involves pronation and supination of our feet, which
refers to the ‘in and out’ movement that occurs during weight bearing
activities, such as walking or running. It’s only when the feet pronate too
deeply and/or for too long a time during this cycle that it becomes a problem.
Excessive pronation of the feet essentially means that the supination part of
the gait cycle is not occurring to the degree that it should be, and this
causes problems not only in the feet, but throughout the entire body as well.
Having an
abnormal gait cycle means alterations to our walking and running patters, which
in turn causes imbalances and excessive wear and tear on certain parts of the
body, such as the ankles and knees. Pain in the arch of the feet and a feeling
of instability while in motion are also common complaints, and there are
several conditions that are more likely to occur when there is over pronation
of the feet, such as plantar fasciitis, heel spurs, metatarsalgia, Achilles tendonitis
and bunions.
People with
flat feet are more likely to suffer from over pronation of the feet than people
who have regular or high arches. And flat feet leading to over pronation are
more likely to occur during pregnancy or when obesity is present, both of which
place extra pressure on the arches of the foot, increasing the odds of the arch
flattening out. Tight, painful calf muscles are also a common development with
flat feet and feet inclined to over pronation, and there may be an inclination
to walk on the inner portion of the foot as well. This development can not only
cause pain to develop in the ankle but it may cause discomfort to occur in the
knees or lower back as well, and it’s not uncommon for runners with condition
to develop shin splints.
Fortunately,
there are conservative (non-surgical) treatments that can greatly reduce the
discomfort and physical imbalances that often occur due to over pronation of
the feet. Orthotic insoles are one of the most highly effective and often
recommended treatments for this particular condition. Not only do orthotic
devices realign the foot in order to restore normal and healthy functioning of
the feet, they also cushion painful and inflamed joints and tendons. The proper
use of high quality orthotics will also create proper alignment with other
parts of the body, such as the knees and hips, thereby reducing pain and injury
outside of the feet as well.
When treating
over pronation of the feet wearing supportive footwear is also a good idea, as
is investing in high quality sneakers if physical activity is regularly
undertaken. Runners in particular need to make sure that they choose a shoe
designed for that particular activity and their particular foot problems,
otherwise, serious and/or chronic injuries may develop.
If conservative treatment do not provide any pain relief, or if the situation worsens then professional advice should be
sought. While over pronation of the feet is not a life threatening condition it
can be quite painful and debilitating, but it can also be fairly easily
remedied through the use of orthotic devices and proper footwear.
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