Pronation for Dummies

Pronation is a term that we use to talk about how our feet and ankles move when we walk or run. It is a normal part of our movement, and it happens every time we take a step. You see, when we land on the ground with our feet, they need to adapt to the surface and absorb some of the shock to protect our bodies. Pronation helps our feet and ankles do exactly that.

Now, let's imagine that you're walking barefoot on the beach. As you take a step, your foot rolls inward slightly so that your weight is distributed evenly across the surface of your foot. This rolling inward motion is called pronation. It's similar to what happens when you pour a glass of water slowly onto the ground, and the water spreads out to cover a larger area. In the same way, pronation helps our feet spread the force of our body weight over a bigger area, making each step more comfortable and reducing the impact on our joints.

But what happens next is just as important! After our foot has rolled inward, it needs to roll back outward again as we push off the ground to take the next step. This rolling outward motion is called supination, and it's like when you try to collect all the spilled water back into the glass by tipping it back up. Supination helps us launch our bodies forward and move efficiently as we walk or run.

So, to recap, pronation is the slight rolling inward motion that our feet and ankles make when we land on the ground during walking or running. It helps our feet adjust to different terrains and absorb shock. It's just like when you pour water onto the ground, and it spreads out to cover a larger area. And remember, after pronation comes supination, which is the rolling outward motion that helps us push off the ground and move forward. Just like when you try to collect spilled water back into a glass by tipping it back up.