What is pronate?

Pronation is the natural movement of the foot during walking and running. It involves the inward turning of the foot as the heel strikes the ground, followed by the rolling of the foot towards the ball of the foot and finally the toe-off. This movement helps to absorb shock and distribute the body weight evenly across the foot during the gait cycle.

Overpronation is when the foot excessively rolls inward during the gait cycle, putting extra strain on the structures of the foot and lower leg, which can lead to problems such as plantar fasciitis, shin splints, and knee pain. Underpronation, or supination, is when the foot rolls outward instead of inward during the gait cycle. This can lead to problems such as ankle sprains, shin splints, and stress fractures.

It is important to have a proper assessment of foot biomechanics to determine if pronation is a problem, and to select appropriate footwear or orthotics to help control it.