What Is Pronation Control?

Pronation occurs during normal motion when the heel makes contact with the ground, causing the foot to flatten out and roll inward at the ankle. Everyone pronates to some degree when walking, but excessive pronation, called over-pronation, can cause injury to muscles, tendons and ligaments.

Causes

• Heredity is the most common cause of pronation. The second most common cause has to do with the positioning of a baby's feet in the womb during development and is referred to as a congenital defect. In both cases, loose muscles and ligaments aren't able to hold bones properly in place, preventing them from aligning. Over time, the body grows accustomed to this improper alignment and the condition continues to worsen.

Effects

• Over-pronation may cause several complications. Because shock isn't properly absorbed when you pronate excessively, you can get shin splints, Achilles tendonitis and ankle sprains. Other symptoms include knee, hip and back pain. Over-pronation may often be to blame for arch pain and flat feet, as well as corns and calluses.

Orthotics

• Pronation is considered a biomechanical disorder. It can often be treated by using orthopedic devices, or orthotics, designed to modify the foot's function. Some are as simple as the insoles sold over-the-counter in many stores. Others can be custom-made to treat your specific condition. These require a visit to a podiatrist to create a unique cast of your foot.

Footwear

• Buying a shoe with adequate medial support can be crucial to controlling pronation. A firmer midsole can prevent the foot from rolling inward by making it less likely to compress under weight. Most podiatrists can conduct a foot-strike or gait analysis, which will aid in determining what shoe will best suit your foot type.