12 Jul Pronated Foot Care

Pronation Problems

Pronation is a natural part of walking. If you pay attention when you’re walking or running, you’ll notice that your foot rolls inward slightly as it moves from heel to toe. This rolling movement is a normal way for the body to transfer weight and keep you balanced. But in some people this movement is exaggerated, and that can lead to problems.  Read on to learn about pronated foot care.

Over-pronation, when the foot rolls inward too much, can cause tremendous pressure on the feet and legs. The constant twisting pulls on the muscles and eventually wears them out. An overly pronated foot will strain all of the leg muscles, ligaments and tendons.

Over-pronation can lead to:

• pain in the hips, heels or arches
• shin splints
• tendinitis
• bunions and calluses
• plantar fasciitis
• ankle sprains
• cramps
• stress fractures

Any of these conditions can put a serious cramp in your running style and eventually sideline you. The good news is that pronation can be treated.

Causes of Pronation in Feet

The causes of pronation are unclear, but certain things can increase the chances you’ll have it. It’s common in runners. It can also occur in people who are overweight or have arthritis.

Arches that are too high or too low, muscle weakness, the type of shoe you wear and how much running you do can all be factors.

Preventing Pronation

Your regular foot care routine should include:

• regular stretching of your feet
• warming up before exercising
• lacing your running shoes tightly

Be alert to symptoms of pronation like arch pain, heel pain, frequent sprains and muscle weakness. If your knees point outward when you’re standing straight or the insides of your shoes seem to wear out quickly, you might have pronation.

Treatment Options

Pronation cannot be fixed with at-home or over-the-counter remedies. Only professional foot care by a qualified podiatrist can put you on track to a pain-free future.

Almost all foot experts agree that the best treatment for pronation is to use podiatrist-prescribed orthotics.

Brad Walker, an expert on stretching to prevent sports-related injuries, tells readers of his blog that when it comes to pronation-related injuries, “the best advice I can give you is to go and see a qualified podiatrist for a complete foot-strike and running gait analysis. They will be able to tell you if there are any concerns regarding the way your running gait is functioning.”

That’s valuable advice even if you’re not a runner. A podiatrist can examine your feet and analyze your gait to see what’s causing your pronation problem and how to treat it.

Custom-made flexible orthotics are a proven treatment for pronation problems. According to the University of California Sports Medicine Clinic, one study found that 75 percent of runners found relief when using this type of corrective foot care.

Up and Running

At Shuman Podiatry, we see pronated feet every day and we’ve successfully treated this condition many times. We have the latest diagnostic tools and can custom-fit orthotics that will make you feel like you’re floating on clouds.

Running is a vital part of your life and you shouldn’t let pronation slow your stride. Make an appointment today and we’ll get you up and running in no time flat.