Foot Conditions Share Tweet Pin Share Did you know these facts about foot overpronation? That 80% of people have abnormal walking patterns? A normal foot turns inward when stepping and adapts to the surface under it. When overpronation occurs, the foot turns inward too much. The joint surfaces meet at an unnatural angle, stretching soft tissue and flattening the arch. Overpronation is one of the most common causes of leg and foot pain. Over time, the joints are flexible instead of stable, and thousands of steps later the feet tendons, muscles, and ligaments can suffer permanent deformities. Please. Do not ignore foot pain. Here are ways to detect overpronation: 1. Stand up straight. Do one or both kneecaps turn to the center (inward)? Is there more weight on the inside of your heels? 2. Look at your shoes. Do they wear out quickly in the heels and soles? 3. When you are active, do you get knee pain that feels better only after a lot of rest? 4. Have you developed bunions , or flat feet ? Other symptoms that result from overpronation include: foot pain, arch pain, corns and calluses, heel pain (aka plantar fasciitis), a stiff big toe (Docs call it hallux rigidus), shin splints, back of the heel pain (achilles tendonitis), ball of the foot pain (metatarsalgia), and osteochondrosis, which is defective bone formation. OK, if you have read this far, you want some help to treat the over-pronation and prevent permanent damage. Video of pronation exercise: "Adding a thin (1/4"-1/2") mat underneath the foot of a person performing a closed chain exercise forces the weak invertors (tibialis posterior, flexor digitorum longus, and flexor hallucis longus4) and the plantar flexors (gastrocnemius, soleus, and plantaris4) to actively engage." Excellent comment by Alfredus, Canada. About Orthotics No, not something you grab at the local drugstore (although it may be better than nothing!). Think of orthotics devices, or orthoses, as your feet's best friends. They will support your feet and align them correctly. Do you wear glasses or contact lenses to help you see? Have you ever had braces to help your teeths' alignment? Well, orthoses help the alignment of your feet. And it feels good to wear them. Your feet will also look better. Besides preventing permanent deformities, wearing orthotic devices prevent corns, calluses, and bunions. Which are all ugly. The Solution The best thing to do is to haul your feet to your podiatrist . You will have your very own custom orthotics made to fit your favorite shoes. People who have done this for themselves return for new orthotics when the first pair wear out, they make that much of a difference. May all your steps be happy ones.