Pronation
Throughout life most of us are constantly walking, jogging
or running, but we often times don’t pay attention to the pronation in our step.
Most of us don’t even have an idea for what pronation is. Pronation is the
inward movement of the foot as it rolls to distribute the force of impact of
the ground and is critical to proper shock absorption.
There are 3 types of pronation; normal
pronation, overpronation and underpronation, and can all have an effect on
which orthotic shoes or arch supports to use.
Normal Pronation
You are likely to have normal pronation if the soles of your
shoes show wear in an S-shaped pattern. With normal pronation the foot rolls
inward about 15% before coming in complete contact with the ground and can
support your weight easily.
Overpronation
With overpronation, the foot rolls inward more than 15%. This leads to the foot
and ankle having problems stabilizing the body, resulting in shock that isn’t
absorbed as efficiently. Overpronation can also cause calluses, bunions,
runners knee and Achilles tendinitis.
Underpronation
Underpronation is when there is an insufficient roll of the
foot after landing. The inward movement of the foot rolls less than 15%. The force of impact is concentrated on a smaller
area and is not distributed efficiently. Underpronation causes extra stress on
the foot, which can lead to Achilles tendinitis and plantar fasciitis. You can
notice underpronation when the outer edge of your running shoes wears out
sooner.
Whatever the situation may be, we, at Great Steps believe
stretching is an important factor regardless if you have overpronation or
underpronation. We also recommend you speak to an expert before purchasing your
next pair of shoes or insoles so that you can prevent any further
complications.
If you have any further questions please contact us at www.GreatStepsOP.com
or give us a call at (320) 229-1742
