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Over Pronation (Flat Feet) During walking or running the foot and ankle complex has 2 main jobs to do whilst the
foot is in contact with the ground. - To
act as a shock absorber through early stance sometimes called shock absorption phase (when your foot initially
makes contact with the ground)
- To act as a rigid lever in late stance sometimes called toe off (as you go on to your toe to "push
off" to the next step)
Shock Absorption
Phase (Early Stance) As the foot makes contact with the floor
it is supposed to help help absorb the forces of your body weight making contact with the ground. It does this
by pronating or rolling inward slightly to help cushion the impact of walking or running. If the foot over pronates
it has the appearance of being flat hence the term flat feet. There are a
number of reasons for over pronation: Hypermobility
Tight achiles tendon Hind/forefoot deformities Dysfunction (muscles
not working properly) Tonal problems
It is extremely important that a
full biomechanical assessment is done in order to establish the reason for over pronating. The reason for this is that the treatment
required will differ depending on the primary cause of the over pronation. Left
untreated over pronation can lead to a number of secondary conditions - Shin Splints
- Hallux valgus
(bunions)
- Plantar fasciitis
- Metatarsalgia
- Hallux limitus
- Anterior knee pain (due to tibial rotation associated with pronation)
- Fixed flat feet deformities
Toe Off Phase
(Late Stance) In late stance the foot is tasked
with propelling the body forward effectively and has to act as a rigid lever. To do this it must supinate or roll outward
slightly. In this position the small joints in the foot are very secure and provide a rigid platform to push
on to the next step. The problem with the overpronated foot however is that the
body has to work especially hard in order to pull the foot from the over pronated position. Shin splints are
as a result of the muscles involved in late stance having to work much harder than they would normally, resulting in pain
in the lower half of the leg.
Image of over pronated feet
Treatment of Over Pronation
(Flat Feet) Foot
orthotics are designed to prevent the foot from over pronating during walking or running. This allows the foot to
continue to act as both an effective shock absorber in early stance and a rigid lever in late stance. Your orthotist can advise on the design of your foot orthotics as they must be designed to specifically address
the reason for your over pronation.
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