When you pronate (roll your foot too far inward) or under pronate (fail to roll your foot far enough inward) you push off and propel yourself with a lot less power. You also place a great deal of stress on the surrounding ligaments and bones, as well as on your lower leg, knee, and hips.
When you under supinate (fail to roll your foot far enough outward), you land on the inside of your foot (flat-footed.) This provides little stability and causes your ensuing push-off to be weak because the foot is not yet rigid. When you over supinate (roll your foot too far outward), you land too far to the outside of your heel. Stability is generally not a problem, but shock absorption is Operating within the proper ranges of pronation and supination is critical to performing. 90 % of athletes without orthotics operate outside these optimal ranges.
Custom orthotics made for your particular athletic activity correct your improper levels of pronation and supination.
Plantar fasciitis/Heel pain
Plantar fasciitis is the commonest cause of inferior heel pain. The plantar fascia is a thick fibrous tissue on the plantar aspect of the foot. It originates from the calcaneus and passes anteriorly, splitting at each metatarsophalangeal joint to permit passage of the flexor tendons. The plantar fascia acts as bowstring that helps maintain the longitudinal arch of the foot. The problem occurs when the fascia is overused and micro tears within the fascia become inflamed resulting in pain
Morton's Neuroma
Morton's neuroma is an enlarged nerve that usually occurs in the third interspace, which is between the third and fourth toes. Despite the name, the condition was first correctly described by a chiropodist named Durlacher, and although it is labelled a "neuroma", many sources do not consider it a true tumor, but rather a perineural fibroma (fibrous tissue formation around nerve tissue). Classically the 3rd digital space between the 3rd and 4th toes is affected, but the condition can occasionally occur in the 2nd and 3rd interdigital space. The pain is caused by pressure on the enlarged section of nerve where it passes between the metatarsal heads, and is squeezed between them. The first toe is usually not involved. Neuroma in the 4th/5th interdigital space is described, but is extremely rare.
Hallux limitus
Limited motion of the 1st metatarsal phalangeal joint (big toe joint). Hallux limitus describes a condition where the hallux (great toe) is limited in its' range of motion. This limited range of motion results in jamming of the 1st metatarsal phalangeal joint (1st mpj or great toe joint). Over time, repetitive jamming will contribute to arthritis of the great toe joint. The most characteristic sign of hallux limitus is a bump (exostosis) on top of the head of the 1st metatarsal
Claw Toes/Hammertoes
Hammertoe is a contracture or bending of one or both joints of the second, third, fourth, or fifth (little) toes. This abnormal bending can put pressure on the toe when wearing shoes, causing problems to develop. The most common cause of hammertoe is a muscle/tendon imbalance. This imbalance, which leads to a bending of the toe, results from mechanical (structural) changes in the foot that occur over time in some people.
Plantar fasciitis is the commonest cause of inferior heel pain. The plantar fascia is a thick fibrous tissue on the plantar aspect of the foot. It originates from the calcaneus and passes anteriorly, splitting at each metatarsophalangeal joint to permit passage of the flexor tendons. The plantar fascia acts as bowstring that helps maintain the longitudinal arch of the foot. The problem occurs when the fascia is overused and micro tears within the fascia become inflamed resulting in pain
Morton's neuroma is an enlarged nerve that usually occurs in the third interspace, which is between the third and fourth toes. Despite the name, the condition was first correctly described by a chiropodist named Durlacher, and although it is labelled a "neuroma", many sources do not consider it a true tumor, but rather a perineural fibroma (fibrous tissue formation around nerve tissue). Classically the 3rd digital space between the 3rd and 4th toes is affected, but the condition can occasionally occur in the 2nd and 3rd interdigital space. The pain is caused by pressure on the enlarged section of nerve where it passes between the metatarsal heads, and is squeezed between them. The first toe is usually not involved. Neuroma in the 4th/5th interdigital space is described, but is extremely rare.
Hammertoe is a contracture or bending of one or both joints of the second, third, fourth, or fifth (little) toes. This abnormal bending can put pressure on the toe when wearing shoes, causing problems to develop. The most common cause of hammertoe is a muscle/tendon imbalance. This imbalance, which leads to a bending of the toe, results from mechanical (structural) changes in the foot that occur over time in some people.
