How Can I Fix Flat Feet? Treatment For Pronation
What Is Pronation?
Pronation The normal motion of the foot when the foot rolls inwards. This occurs as soon as the foot touches the ground. The muscles relax and the joints loosen. This motion is required for shock absorption and foot adaptation to different terrains. However, over pronation is not normal. This happens when your foot rolls in too far, causing ligaments and muscles to become stretched. The joints have to work at an unnatural angle. This can cause severe discomfort and other painful conditions. Over pronation treatment can be very important because the strain placed upon ligaments, joints and muscle may cause permanent deformities as well as issues in the hips, back, knees, hips, and ankles.
How Can I Tell If I Have Over Pronation?
There are usually some symptoms such as pain, discomfort, or other symptoms that can be felt in your feet and legs, knees, hips, hips, or lower back. You can detect over pronation by looking at someone standing from the back. If they tilt their heels inward, it is possible to see them. You may also see the arch of the foot collapse or flatten (flat feet) and sometimes a “fleshy bulge” is noticed on the inner side of the foot just above the arch. You can also identify over pronation by looking at the patterns you wear on your shoes. You may have excessive pronation if your shoes wear quickly and the pattern is concentrated on the sole (heel) or front. You can also notice a slight inward tilt to your shoes if you place them flat on the ground and view them from behind.
How Does Over Pronation Affect Your Feet And Body?
Over pronation causes the joints of the foot to unlock and the foot becomes unstable at a time when it needs to be stable (it becomes a “loose bag of bones”), in turn the muscles in your feet and legs can become over stretched and have to act very quickly in an attempt to compensate and stabilise the foot. The muscles and ligaments are put under too much strain and will respond by tightening and weakening. The unnatural angles at which the joints are working can lead to them being jarred and locked in unnatural positions. Over pronation causes the leg to move inwards from the action on the ankle joint. This in turn leads the knee and thigh to move inwards and the hip and knee joints will also be working at unnatural angles. The foot that pronates the most will be the one that falls more, and it will fall further to the ground than the foot that is more upright. This can lead to one limb being lower than the other (it looks shorter), which can put strain on your lower back. Also, changes in your spine such as scoliosis may also occur.
What Are Some Of The Common Conditions That May Be Associated With Over Pronation?
Below is a list of some common conditions that may be associated with over pronation:
- Plantar fasciitis
- Heel Pain
- Heel spurs
- Arch Pain
- Knee pain
- Lower back pain
- Achilles tendon problems
- Bunions (Hallux abducto valgus)
- Stiff big toe (Hallux limitus)
- Pain in the ball of the foot (metatarsalgia or Morton’s neuroma)
- Shin splints
These are only a few of the conditions that may be related to over pronation.
Over Pronation Treatment
There are a variety of treatments available for over pronation and the Podiatrists at Rivervale Podiatry usually utilise a combination of these treatments. Below are some of the treatment protocols that may be used:
- Strapping/Taping – Taping the foot in a certain way provides support for the foot as well as stability and may be used in acute cases or as a first line treatment
- Exercises – These are used to strengthen certain muscles in order to achieve better foot function
- Stretching protocols – This aids in loosening up tight muscles and ligaments to prevent further strain
- Joint mobilisations – This helps joints that may have become jarred or fixed to loosen up and in turn, better foot function is achieved.
- Orthotics – These shoe inserts prevent over pronation from happening, support the feet and gives your feet the ability to function at optimum levels
Speak to one of the Podiatrists at Rivervale Podiatry if you would like to know more about over pronation treatment.
