Pronation is the natural rolling of the foot from outer to medial part when it impacts the ground during a single running stride. To illustrate it better, imagine focusing on the heel of a runner as his foot impacts the surface on which he is running on. You will notice that the heel, when viewed from behind, will act to roll from the outside towards the inside of the foot.
This action protects the major joints and bones on your foot, legs and knees from the damaging forces they could have been exposed to. Without the rolling motion of the ball of the heel you could wreck your feet when running quite quickly.
What Is Overpronation?
When the foot rolls excessively towards the medial part of the sole, this is called Overpronation. This is very apparent when you see the ankle collapse towards the inside of the foot. Too much rolling of the foot can have detrimental effects on your biomechanical system.
Who suffers from it?
Although pronation is a natural biomechanical occurrence, a few runners pronate a little too excessively. More and more runners suffer from overpronation because the national weight average has increased over the years. Heavier runners are prone to excessive pronation which can be a serious threat if not addressed immediately.
Does it affect many runners?
Overpronation may sound like a rare phenomenon but it is estimated that almost half of all runners experience it. There are about as many people who suffer from overpronation than those who do not.
What are the risks associated with Overpronation?
Quite a few injuries can be developed if the overpronating runner continues to run. Plantar fasciitis is a common problem that most runners with overpronation face. Excessive rolling (of the foot) twists the foot, leg muscles and tendons of the lower leg all the way up to the lower back. This causes a lot of problems which include shin splits, tendonitis and bunions.
Over time overpronation can totally alter the biomechanical structure of the runner. Quite often knees knock on each other when the person runs. It is important to prevent this from happening as it may affect not only the running career of an individual but also his day to day life.
How can these risks be minimized?
Fortunately, the running shoe industry has developed tons of products to help with overpronation. Since it is quite a common occurrence there is an abundance of shoes, insoles and other products devoted to alleviate excessive pronation.
A more careful shoe selection process can help reduce, if not totally eliminate, the ill effects of overpronation.
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