Sports Med Blog

Eighty percent of runners do it

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Published on Wednesday, 19 October 2011 15:23

Written by Admin

It's called Pronation and it is the flattening of the arch when the foot lands on the ground. If you are an overpronator and you were to video yourself running, it would look as though your foot (or feet) were turning inward when you run. This flattening aids in balance and provides some shock absorption. So if you've been to a running store and been diagnosed with overpronation, chances are, you buy stability or motion control running shoes.

There are degrees of pronation, however. A light pronator has more shoe choices than a strong overpronator. There are tips to help the overpronator such as landing your feet slightly behind your hips (midfoot strike) and holding your pelvis level with each stride.

Supportive Cushioning, stability and motion control shoes are a quick temporary "fix" but if you really want to change gait, you have to be proactive about it. Strengthening drills, stride changes, barefoot running (for some) for foot strength are all viable options.

For more information, ask your foot doctor, orthopedist or physical therapist. Any medical professional that specializes in sports medicine can usually offer some very sage advice and exercises that will help. Because actually tackling this issue at the core, saves your ankles and knees. It's all about the biomechanics.