Supination, or underpronation, is a term used to describe the foot’s motion while walking or running. An underpronator’s foot does not rotate enough to allow the inner aspect of the foot and the ankle to move forward. Instead, the outer edge of the sole remains fixed to the ground during support phase. This abnormal motion can cause many problems for the athlete.
The main cause of underpronation is the structure of the foot. People with high arch feet are typical underpronators. High arch feet are rigid and cannot absorb shock well. Therefore, they do not roll in adequately during walking or running. High arch feet are a major factor in the problems of underpronation, and people with these type of feet can have difficulty finding the correct sports shoe, as well as maintaining the correct alignment and support of their feet during sport, (Manoli & Graham, 2005). Other causes of underpronation include genetic factors, previous injury to the foot/ankle and also the wrong type of footwear.
The way your foot moves affects your overall biomechanics. So, if you have underpronated feet, it can cause problems with the alignment of your legs, knees and hips. All of the shock that your foot would normally absorb can travel up your leg, placing stress on your knees and hips. This can cause pain and discomfort and can even lead to injury. For runners, in particular, underpronated feet can cause a wide range of problems, from fatigue in the legs and feet to more serious problems such as shin splints and plantar fasciitis. Even if you’re not a runner, however, underpronated feet can cause a wide range of problems, especially if you’re physically active.
Finally, it is also very important to realize the relation between underpronation and foot mechanics. Moast underpronators are supination-prone, meaning they usually land on the outside of their foot when running or walking. This way, most of the pressure is put on the outside of the foot. This might cause uneven wear on soles of running shoes and, as a result, make it very hard to find the right shoes with enough support for such a runner. He will need special running shoes that support his foot in the proper way. These will need to provide sufficient cushioning to handle the impact and to distribute the forces during mid-stance properly.
People who underpronate have problems with how force is distributed across the foot during activities like running and jumping. This can be a problem for athletes, as they can suffer from a variety of problems due to this. The major problem with underpronation is that the foot does not roll inward (medially) as much as it does for people who are not underpronators. This causes several problems, such as increased stress on the ankles, and can lead to problems like ankle sprains, and plantar fasciitis. Ankle sprains are caused by the ligaments around the ankle being stretched or torn. Many people who are underpronators suffer from ankle sprains, due in part to the fact that underpronators are unable to absorb the impact of landing in an adequate manner. This leads to excessive strain on the ankle and surrounding joints. Plantar fasciitis is the pain in the heel and bottom of the foot, and is caused by increased tension on the plantar fascia due to the underpronator not allowing the foot to roll inward (medially) in a proper manner. Many underpronators are affected by these types of injuries, which can impede athletes from performing at their highest level and from participating in their sport.
To manage underpronation and treat related problems, activities of daily living and sport can be managed using a variety of approaches, including the use of appropriate footwear and the use of orthotics, to try to improve the foot mechanics of the individual. In addition to these approaches, individuals with underpronation can benefit from a physical therapy program that includes a variety of exercises to strengthen the muscles of the foot and ankle. Additionally, the program can include a variety of exercises that are designed to increase flexibility of the muscles of the lower extremities. Such a program will help the athlete return to regain participation in activities of daily living and in sport, while decreasing pain and preventing injury. Overall, correcting the underpronation of the athlete will help to improve running or walking mechanics and will result in enhanced athletic performance.
In summary, correcting underpronation is crucial for improving athletic performance by allowing athletes to move efficiently from start to finish of their activity. This is because, when the foot is working properly, all of the joints of the body, including the ligaments and muscles, work together seamlessly to allow for activities to be performed with the least amount of stress placed on the lower parts of the body. Therefore, improving the foot mechanics of athletes is crucial for their long-term health and athletic performance.
Citations:
Manoli, A. and Graham, B., 2005. The subtle cavus foot,“the underpronator,” a review. Foot & ankle international, 26(3), pp.256-263. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/107110070502600313
Donatelli, R., Donatelli, G. and Baycroft, C., 2024. Foot and ankle: anatomy, mechanics, and rehabilitation. In Foundations of Orthopedic Physical Therapy (pp. 308-336). Routledge. https://api.taylorfrancis.com/content/chapters/edit/download?identifierName=doi&identifierValue=10.4324/9781003524212-15&type=chapterpdf
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