Overpronation – Can It Be Cured?

The injuries related to overpronation have led many runners to take breaks off of their running schedule. To alleviated injuries the first thing you do is stop running. This could be hard for some people to accept especially if they have become accustomed to the feeling of wellness after their morning runs.

Overpronation is a real problem among experienced and beginning runners alike. People often just take breaks and wait for their feet to heel then go back running only to find the same pain recurring. What they need is a way to heal the painful effects of overpronation. Is there really a way to cure overpronation? Read on and find out.

Overpronation occurs when the ankle rolls towards the medial part of the foot way too much than the recommended amount. Normal pronation is a natural biomechanical adaptation that we humans have developed to reduce the forces that our lower body experiences when our foot touches the ground during running.

A lot of people do not know that there are ways fix ovepronation. The first thing you could do is to consciously change the way you run. Heel strikers are people who put the balls of their heels first upon impact and transition towards the forefoot.

This motion is what everyone would consider natural. But in fact this heel impact to toe push off can be very prone to injury. Our shoes are designed around this action but it is still an inefficient way to run. The proper way to run and avoid injuries at the same time is by using a technique called forefoot running. That is, strike the ground first with the balls of your forefoot. Almost like running on your toes.

Too much weight causes overpronation. Our ankles can only support our foot so much before it gives in and collapses medially. If you weight over twice your normal body weight chances are you are excessively pronating. Even if you are not predisposed to have flat feet your feet can flatten as your weight goes up.

Calf muscles do more for your running gait that you would expect. Therapy for foot problems includes strengthening your calves. Try and do calf raises by raising your calves in and up and down fashion for several repetitions. If you are a lighter runner having some weight you can strap on your body is best.

A few weeks exercising your calves will do wonders for your running gait. As they calves get stronger it can hold the ankle more securely. This reduces overpronation and enhances the way your foot secures itself during each foot fall.

More often than not, most casual runners get shoes that are wrong for them. Someone who requires a very strong shoe to resist the rolling of the ankles could face serious injuries if they purchase shoes which are categorized neutral. Make sure you have at least a little idea on what shoes to get for your excessive overpronation.

The right pair of shoes for your overpronated gait is called motion control running shoes. Read more about the Brooks Beast Running Shoes one of the most popular shoes in this category.