Foot structure is important. You may not be too familiar with all of the bones in the foot and all of the complications that can come when you have issues with the underlying structure of your foot, including flat feet. What you may recognize, however, are the symptoms that could indicate you have a hyperpronation issue (also called overpronation). Let’s take a look at what hyperpronation is, how it affects you, and how it relates to your flat feet.
What is Hyperpronation?
It is normal for your feet to pronate, which happens when the foot rolls inward to absorb shock when you are running or walking. This is a natural and good thing, and if it happens the right way your body is working as it is supposed to. Hyperpronation occurs when the ankle bone turns inward and the rest of the foot turns outward, and too much body weight is placed on the inside of the foot when walking or running. This happens when a person’s arch is flattened as weight is applied to the foot.
Symptoms of Hyperpronation
You may be wondering how to tell if you have a hyperpronation issue. If you are noticing any of the following symptoms in your feet, it may be a sign that you are overpronating:
- Plantar Fasciitis
- Heel Spurs
- Metatarsalgia
- Post-tib Tendonitis
- Bunions
These symptoms could be happening due to the stress that hyperpronation causes on the foot bones, tendons and ligaments. Additionally, you could be experiencing pain all of the way up your body in the form of leg, knee, hip and back pain. It isn’t always obvious, but musculoskeletal problems in your body often have their roots in the structure of the foot. When you are constantly placing pressure on your feet, and have a hyperpronation issue, you could be damaging your body in other areas beyond your feet.
Hyperpronation and Flat Feet
As mentioned above, hyperpronation happens when the arch of the foot is flattened upon walking or running. This condition is often described as flat feet, and is the main cause of the hyperpronation. When the foot doesn’t have a healthy arch structure, the excessive inward turning of the ankle bone occurs and you will notice the above mentioned symptoms.
How Can I Fix my Flat Feet?
There are a variety of treatment methods available to treat flat feet. These range from stretches that can help ease the pain, to orthotics, to reconstructive surgery. These are described in more detail in our blog post on treating flat feet.
Flat feet are not something that should be ignored, and while there are a variety of treatment methods, the first step is getting them looked at. If you have hyperpronation when you walk or run, this could be due to having flat feet. You should see a foot specialist to get a full diagnosis.
