Foot Pain Centres
of Leeds

Telephone: 0113 418 0282   

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What is Pronation?

Pronation is a natural anatomical movement that is necessary to occur during both walking and running which helps to provide adequate shock absorption to the foot.

Pronation can be subdivided into 3 separate body movements occurring in 3 separate body planes, defined as :-

ABDUCTION   DORSIFLEXION    EVERSION

How Can I tell if I Over pronate ?

Firstly, look at your feet in standing, have you got a clear arch on the inside of the foot ? If there is not an arch and the innermost part of the sole touches the floor, then your feet are over pronated.

Secondly, look at your running shoes. If they are worn on the inside of the sole in particular, then over pronation may be a problem for you.

Thirdly, try the Wet foot test.

A normal foot will leave a print of the heel, connected to the forefoot by a strip approximately half the width of the foot on the outside of the sole. If you’re feet are pronated there may be little or no distinction between the rear and forefoot.

Wet Foot Test

wet test 1

Wet your foot and stand on a piece of absorbent paper

wet test 2

Compare your wet footprint against the chart

 

wet test 3

Wet test comparison chart

When pronation is excessive, it can lead to a number of injuries including:

Around 98% of all foot injuries are related to an excessive amount of pronation.

The image below shows someone who over pronates when standing, The left foot is rolling in. This in turn causes the lower leg to turn inwards which places the knee out of alignment which can cause the low back and pelvis to tilt forwards.

Pronated foot

Pronated foot

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This foot can be corrected with an orthotic device which controls the excessive pronation and reduces inward rolling of the knee and a forward tilt of the pelvis and low back.

    Information request

    pronation1

    Right foot moving away from the midline of the body

    pronation3

    Right foot moving upwards

    pronation2

    Right foot moving inwards