Supination
Supination is a natural movement of the foot that allows us to walk and run. In some cases over-supination can lead to discomfort or injury. Find out more about supination in our guide.
What is supination?
Supination, also known as underpronation, happens when your weight rolls onto the outer edges of your feet when you walk. This can lead to overuse of your outer toes instead of the ball of your foot and the big toe, as you would in a normal stride.
Supination can cause ankle pain, pain in the bottom of the foot and stress higher up in the body. This can lead to knee pain, hip pain and even back pain if left untreated.
What causes supination?
Supination is usually caused by genetics however it can also occur from other factors such as:
- Body misalignment
- Incorrect or unsupportive footwear
- Weakness of the bones or muscle tissue
- Prior injury
- Prolonged contact on hard surfaces
- Arthritis
Treatment for supination
If you have supination you should avoid wearing high heels and invest in good quality footwear that keeps the foot steady and supported. Our brands such as Vionic, Strive and Skechers have a wide selection of quality shoes to choose from.
Another option is to use corrective orthotics, as these will help realign your feet and allow equal distribution of pressure across the foot.
You should seek professional help and advice to find out what the right treatment is for you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you correct supination?
Supination can be corrected through a mixture of exercise, stretching and wearing the proper footwear. Orthotics can also be worn to support the feet and evenly distribute pressure.
Do insoles help supination?
Orthotic insoles help to correct supination by preventing your foot from rolling outwards. This will reduce pressure on your ankles and help to minimise pain and discomfort.