In this article, we will briefly discuss foot arches, pronation and supination, and how they all connect together.
The human food is highly individual, which you can clearly see in the differences between your right and left foot.
Foot arches
The arch of a person’s feet is the most distinctive aspect of them.
Scientists refer to this arch as the medial longitudinal arch, which is one of three arches. It runs from the end of the heel to the ball of the foot, with the angle extending to the center.
Conversely, the lateral longitudinal arch runs along the lateral (i.e., outside) edge of your foot.
Finally, the anterior transverse arch runs sideways (behind the ball of the foot).
These three arches work simultaneously to ensure that your foot absorbs the shock of the terrain you’re walking or running on.
Unfortunately, the shape of your foot – particularly the arches – can increase the risk of certain medical conditions, especially as you age. These conditions include bunions, hammertoes, plantar fasciitis, shin splints, and ankle injuries.
If you experience any symptoms or signs on the soles or sides of your feet, you should consult with Shapecrunch.
Why does arch height matter?
The arches of the foot provide structural and dynamic support to the body as you move around.
For instance, if your arch is high or flat, you may be subject to additional stress applied to your muscles and joints. This is especially true if you frequently engage in high-intensity or endurance exercises.
The reason behind this boils down to the connection between the height of the arch and its effect on foot movement.
Furthermore, a high or short arch leads to overusing parts of the foot, which eventually precipitates injuries to the muscles, joints, and ligaments.
Pronation and supination
Pronation and supination describe the side-to-side motions of your foot when you are on the move. Pronation refers to the inward roll, whereas supination refers to rolling toward the outside edge of the foot.
If you look down as you take a step forward, you will notice that the ankle dips toward the inside arch when the heel touches the ground.
A pronated foot is normal, as it’s performed to absorb the shock coming from contacting the ground. Similarly, a supinated foot is also normal while walking or running since it redistributes the push-off pressure to the toes.
However, the problem arises when the foot is Over-Pronating or Under Pronating as it affects the dynamics of your whole body - leading to early fatigue, poor posture, and poor gait.
As shown above, Custom Orthotics by Shapecrunch do help in Flat Foot and if you are Over Pronating
Takeaway message
The human foot is an engineering marvel designed to protect the lower limb and body from injury while ensuring you can walk or run on different fields.
Hopefully, this article managed to simplify this complex topic into understandable bits; however, if you still have any questions, please don’t hesitate to ask in the comment section below.