Pronation – Over vs. Under

Pronation refers to how your body weight is distributed on your feet and how your feet handle that weight. Dr. Jeff Bowman, a foot specialist in Houston, TX regularly treats patients who deal with feet that either overpronate or underpronate. The difference may be small but can have a big effect on your foot health.

What is overpronation?

When you have overpronation, your foot tends to roll inward as you walk causing much of your arch to touch the ground. This is a common condition that can cause problems over time as the foot and ankle are not able to absorb shock very efficiently and can’t stabilize the body as well as they should. At the end of each step, instead of the whole front of your foot evenly pushing off, the stress is put on the big and second toe. You can understand then how this can put strain on the muscles and ligaments of your foot.

What is underpronation?

This condition is also called supination and is when the foot automatically rolls outward with each step. The impact is then concentrated on the outside of your foot causing the work during push off to be done by your little toes. With this condition, extra stress is put on your shin, knee, and thigh and strains the muscles in your feet and lower leg. This condition is much less common than overpronation but can cause significant problems if you are athletic and very active.

Looking at a pair of old shoes could show signs of over or underpronation. Look at where the edges are worn. You can also step a wet foot on brown paper and check your footprint.  If no arch is present on the bag you likely pronate. A flat foot often results in overpronation and a high arch often leads to underpronation. A custom device for your shoe called orthotics can be the solution to your foot woes and provide years of comfort

Knowing your foot structure and whether you have a normal or abnormal pronation will help you choose appropriate footwear and understand the cause of any pain you might be having. Make an appointment with Dr. Bowman today to find out the true state of your foot health. Call our podiatric office at (713) 467-8886 or visit www.houstonfootspecialists.com for more information.

©2013 Jeff Bowman., All Rights Reserved

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