Pronate

Pronation is a natural movement of the foot that occurs during foot landing while running or walking. Composed of three cardinal plane components: subtalar eversion, ankle dorsiflexion, and forefoot abduction, these three distinct motions of the foot occur simultaneously during the pronation phase.

Anatomy

Pronation is a normal and necessary part of walking or running. It occurs first at heel strike and continues through the first half of the stance phase. The foot pronates to adapt to the ground surface by becoming a flexible, shock-absorbing structure. This is achieved through a combination of subtalar eversion, ankle dorsiflexion, and forefoot abduction.

Function

The primary function of pronation is to absorb shock during foot landing. It also assists in controlling the amount of weight transferred onto the foot. Overpronation and underpronation can lead to a variety of overuse injuries. Overpronation is when the foot rolls inward too much during the stance phase. This can increase stress on the muscles and tendons of the lower leg, leading to conditions such as shin splints, bunions, or plantar fasciitis.

Clinical significance

Understanding the concept of foot pronation is important in the diagnosis and treatment of various foot and lower limb conditions. These conditions include flat feet, shin splints, stress fractures, and plantar fasciitis. Treatment options for these conditions often involve managing the degree of foot pronation with the use of orthotics or specialized footwear.

See also

• Supination
• Foot
• Gait (human)

References

Pronate Resources
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