4 Key Components to Look for in Footwear for Pronated Feet

Do you experience a lot of  foot pain? If so, you're not alone.

After all, your legs and feet support the full weight of your body all day, every day. That's a lot of pressure and abuse. This takes a toll over the years, especially for people who pronate when they walk or run.

Pronated feet can cause a tremendous amount of discomfort, and this chronic pain typically gets far worse as you age. Fortunately, you've come to the right place for help.

This article takes a look at how to find the best shoes for pronated feet so that you won't have to live with foot pain. Keep reading to get the inside scoop.

1. Type of Pronation

Let's start by taking a look at exactly what is meant by the term "pronation". This refers to the way your foot naturally rolls inward for impact distribution upon contact with the ground.

There are three types of pronation: Underpronation, neutral, and overpronation.

With underpronated feet, the outer side of the heel hits the ground with little or no pronation, resulting in a greater amount of shock being absorbed by the lower leg. Neutral feet land on the outside of the heel and then roll inward so that the impact is absorbed by your body weight. Overpronating feet roll inward excessively, thus transferring body weight to the inner edge of the foot.

The key to determining the type of pronation you have is to visit your local shoe store and have your feet tested. You can also look at the bottom of your shoes to see the natural tread wear pattern. A quick look at the bottom of your shoes will tell you a lot about  the way you walk.

2. Normal Arch

The arch of your feet will determine how you pronate when you walk or run.

For example, if you have normal arches, you will have a fairly normal stride. This means that the bottom of your shoes should wear right down the middle as intended.

3. Low Arch

A person with a low arch has flat feet. This means that your foot is making a significant amount of contact with the ground as you run or walk. Because of this, you'll need insoles that provide plenty of arch support to correct your stride.

4. High Arch

A high arch is called supination.

This is the opposite of being flat-footed. In other words, a person with high arches isn't making enough contact with the ground. The result of supination is a highly unstable foot and ankle, causing foot pain, along with wear on the outer edge of your shoes.

Supination can also result in problems with your peroneal tenons, excessive strain on muscles and joints, and the inability to adequately support your body weight.

A Guide to Buying the Right Type of Shoes for Pronated Feet

There's nothing fun about chronic foot pain. Fortunately, this guide to shoes for pronated feet will help you choose the best footwear for your feet.

Please contact us for more help finding the right shoes for your lifestyle.