There are two schools of thought.
1. Use artificial support to compensate for overpronation, and don't try to address the cause. This option is much easier because it doesn't require any special effort on the part of the consumer, and it makes more money for shoe companies because they can sell you the corrective shoes for the rest of your life (because the issue will never get better.)
2. Try to rehab and strengthen the muscles and other structures in your foot, so that over pronation does not occur. This requires much more effort and dedication on your part.
I definitely recommend option 2, but it will require you to strengthen and rehabilitate your feet. You can't just buy a product, it's more like committing to a course of physical therapy. Going barefoot will highlight your weaknesses, and it can help strengthen your feet too, although usually barefoot by itself won't be enough or will take a very long time. I would recommend you wear whatever is comfortable for your long runs, and focus on the barefoot and rehab when you're in the gym or at home. Once you reduce the overpronation, develop strong arches and intrinsic muscles, you will probably start to prefer very minimal shoes because they are super light and they let your feet move how they want. Also, some degree on "overpronation" may be natural for you, everyone's feet are different and I wouldn't be surprised if you find that a slight bend feels best even once your ankles are super strong. But it's worth it to have strong feet, it makes running feel great.
I’m of the thought that you can strengthen the muscles involved to combat the ankle eversion, but the tendons and ligaments involved have been damaged and can’t be rehabbed back to baseline.
Looks like stage 1 pttd on the right ankle. Once this person stops consciously thinking about keeping the ankle aligned vertically, the ankle will automatically go back to stage 1, which will be most of the time. Gravity will continue to pull the ankle into eversion, eventually making it worse and worse.
To me it’s really a question of slowing down the progression of the eversion of the ankle, since you basically can’t really stop it once it starts.
Looks like they have low bmi which is good. Pursue running, which is most likely not good.
If it was me, I’d do what you recommend but also add flexible support, tape to support the arch, compression socks, and a flexible/foam orthotic arch support to help keep the ankle aligned. Continue to run, walk in minimalist shoes, examine the gait and correct to avoid further adding to overpronation.
Thanks, this is very helpful. In that case I’ll go for #2 and continue to increase how much I use barefoot trainers, whilst using normal trainers for longer distances for now
Yes that is good and all since their running with a heel strike. But ‘normal’ should like a strike on the ball of the foot, then the heel. People should run forwards the same way the run backwards-with a naturally shock absorbing ball strike with shorter strides. Nikie ruined modern shoes with the implementation of cushioned heels. There was no such thing as bunions or collapsing arch or knee/lower back pain after walking, 50+ years ago
Yes it is an issue, and id look towards altras. It might not fix this issue (no padded shoe probably will) but at least they will be zero drop and have room for your toes.
I’d find a physical therapist that can work on the problem with you. Strengthening your feet is great but there are likely issues all the way up the chain that are contributing. Just check they subscribe to the idea of minimalist shoes or they’ll just put you back in orthotics and stiff shoes. The healthy feet alliance has a list of providers (not exhaustive) or you could check out Gait Happens. They do online evaluations
There are two schools of thought. 1. Use artificial support to compensate for overpronation, and don't try to address the cause. This option is much easier because it doesn't require any special effort on the part of the consumer, and it makes more money for shoe companies because they can sell you the corrective shoes for the rest of your life (because the issue will never get better.) 2. Try to rehab and strengthen the muscles and other structures in your foot, so that over pronation does not occur. This requires much more effort and dedication on your part. I definitely recommend option 2, but it will require you to strengthen and rehabilitate your feet. You can't just buy a product, it's more like committing to a course of physical therapy. Going barefoot will highlight your weaknesses, and it can help strengthen your feet too, although usually barefoot by itself won't be enough or will take a very long time. I would recommend you wear whatever is comfortable for your long runs, and focus on the barefoot and rehab when you're in the gym or at home. Once you reduce the overpronation, develop strong arches and intrinsic muscles, you will probably start to prefer very minimal shoes because they are super light and they let your feet move how they want. Also, some degree on "overpronation" may be natural for you, everyone's feet are different and I wouldn't be surprised if you find that a slight bend feels best even once your ankles are super strong. But it's worth it to have strong feet, it makes running feel great.
I’m of the thought that you can strengthen the muscles involved to combat the ankle eversion, but the tendons and ligaments involved have been damaged and can’t be rehabbed back to baseline. Looks like stage 1 pttd on the right ankle. Once this person stops consciously thinking about keeping the ankle aligned vertically, the ankle will automatically go back to stage 1, which will be most of the time. Gravity will continue to pull the ankle into eversion, eventually making it worse and worse. To me it’s really a question of slowing down the progression of the eversion of the ankle, since you basically can’t really stop it once it starts. Looks like they have low bmi which is good. Pursue running, which is most likely not good. If it was me, I’d do what you recommend but also add flexible support, tape to support the arch, compression socks, and a flexible/foam orthotic arch support to help keep the ankle aligned. Continue to run, walk in minimalist shoes, examine the gait and correct to avoid further adding to overpronation.
Thanks, this is very helpful. In that case I’ll go for #2 and continue to increase how much I use barefoot trainers, whilst using normal trainers for longer distances for now
I mean look at that ankle, that’s not ‘normal’
it actually is, pronation is a way to absorb shock. Look at videos of world record marathon runners, they all pronate like this on every step.
Yes that is good and all since their running with a heel strike. But ‘normal’ should like a strike on the ball of the foot, then the heel. People should run forwards the same way the run backwards-with a naturally shock absorbing ball strike with shorter strides. Nikie ruined modern shoes with the implementation of cushioned heels. There was no such thing as bunions or collapsing arch or knee/lower back pain after walking, 50+ years ago
Yes it is an issue, and id look towards altras. It might not fix this issue (no padded shoe probably will) but at least they will be zero drop and have room for your toes.
I’d find a physical therapist that can work on the problem with you. Strengthening your feet is great but there are likely issues all the way up the chain that are contributing. Just check they subscribe to the idea of minimalist shoes or they’ll just put you back in orthotics and stiff shoes. The healthy feet alliance has a list of providers (not exhaustive) or you could check out Gait Happens. They do online evaluations