Overpronation of the foot is a common condition among adults. It involves the ankle rolling inward and the arch of the foot collapsing, putting the burden of support on the ankle. It’s often called ‘flat footedness.’
In developed cases it’s easy to see while a person is standing still – their leg will bow noticeably inward. In other instances, tread wear on shoes can indicate overpronation, with excess wear showing on the interior part of the sole. A person might also have an inconsistent gait or favor one side while they walk.
At Ideal Spine Health Center, part of our approach to addressing spinal corrections involves looking first at a patient’s feet. Many of our Boise, ID patients who complain of low back pain or who suffer from frequent misalignment also show symptoms of overpronation. The two often present in tandem and frequently, overpronation is an attributed cause for spinal and postural issues.
Causes
A flat foot, often known as a fallen arch, may be the cause of overpronation.
Sometimes flat feet are a birth defect. However, some circumstances and behaviors may raise your risk of getting flat feet or weak arches, which may cause overpronation.
Adult-onset flat feet can develop if someone:
- The tendon is inflamed or damaged
- Is overweight
- Participates in a high-impact sport, like basketball
- Suffers from arthritis that damages the ligaments and cartilage in the foot
- Has a foot injury that changes how the joints are aligned?
- Has a neurological condition, such as diabetes, that stops them from sensing when the arch is collapsing.
During pregnancy, overpronation is also possible, but it normally goes away after delivery.
A house of cards
Consider the role the spine plays in supporting the upper body. Like a house of cards, the foundation for support must be rock-solid to prevent troubles from taking shape as you go up. When it comes to the spine, the pelvis is the foundation.
Overpronation directly affects the pelvis, which in turn affects the spine. Weight being displaced via overpronation leads to problems such as pelvic tilt, overcompensation, and conditioning issues.
As the pelvis is forced to adapt to a lack of support in the feet, so too must the spine shift itself to properly proportion weight distribution. The house of cards begins to wobble.
As the foot becomes more and more entrenched in this problematic deviation, more burden is shifted upwards. Soon, the body begins to overcompensate in other ways.
Poor posture to alleviate pain or habits developed via overcompensation become routine. This sends yet another ripple of problems through the spine, deviating further from the ideal spinal position. The trend only continues.
Orthotics may prevent stability issues
Though the symptoms of overpronation occur over weeks, months, and even years, it’s still imperative they’re addressed early. A chiropractor will quickly spot this problem during a complete examination and may do strength and range of motion tests to gauge any damage that may have been done already.
Once a chiropractor has a feel for the severity of the situation, a correction plan can be put in place. This frequently includes recommendations for more supportive footwear, exercise and strengthening for the lower body, and custom orthotics.
Orthotics offer the most potential for corrective capability, since they’re specifically designed for the foot of each individual. At Ideal Spine Health Center, we rely on Sole Supports as a fully customizable solution for patient orthotics.
Preventing injury and ailments
Correcting and preventing overpronation from developing is instrumental in supporting proper spine health. In addition, it’s an important step in minimizing the potential for sports injuries, poor posture, and a wide range of other ailments, including shin splints, plantar fasciitis, Achilles tendonitis, and more.
Visiting with a chiropractor at Ideal Spine Health Center in Boise, ID is a great way to identify overpronation at any stage. Using CBP methodologies, a chiropractor will work to determine the severity of the pronation, as well as what can be done to reverse it. Contact us today for a free consultation.
Chiropractic BioPhysics, or CBP, is one of the most scientific, researched, and results-oriented corrective care techniques. CBP-trained chiropractors aim to realign the spine back to health, eliminating nerve interference and addressing the source of pain, fatigue, and disease. As with all chiropractic care, CBP is gentle, painless, and non-invasive.