Question: I HAVE BEEN RUNNING FOR PAST 60 YEARS, I’M 75 NOW. MOSTLY LONG DISTANCE HAVE COMPLETED 56 MARATHONS, MANY HALF AND 5K RUNS. LATELY, AFTER RUNNING THREE MILES HAVE LOWER SPINAL PAIN, BODY WANTS TO KEEP MOVING TO THE RIGHT, UNABLE TO CONTROL BALANCE. HAVE TO HOLD ONTO OBJECTS AFRAID OF FALLING OVER. I TEND TO GO OFF TO THE RIGHT?
THANK YOU
Answer: Hi. I have received and read your question. In my opinion, your history of marathon running and heavy use has led to a condition of excess Foot Supination/Pronation – an imbalance of the foot. This can be treated by consulting a specialist (sports physical therapist) who will recommend specific exercises. Also you should reevaluate your foot wear with a orthopedic shoe specialist and find a shoe that can correct the problem.
Regards,
Dr. John Claude
Excessive supination (underpronation) and excessive pronation (overpronation) can cause problems with the body’s alignment and lead to pain in the feet, knees, hips, and back.
- Too much supination can cause problems, such as pain and soreness.
- Most people with excessive supination have structural issues in their feet.
- Ways to treat or prevent excessive supination include wearing proper shoes.
People who pronate excessively roll their foot inward, causing the outer part of the heel to make contact with the ground and the feet to flatten too much.
Those who supinate do not roll their foot inward enough. This puts a strain on the ankle and can cause the ankle to roll outward, which leads to injury.
Excessive supination is less common than excessive pronation.
Causes of supination : The structural problems of the feet causing supination are usually inherited. However, external factors can also play a role in the condition.
Common causes of excessive supination include:Traits that affect the mechanics of the feet and legs are often inherited, such as:
- leg length (including differences between the length of the legs)
- width of the foot
- ankle stability
The shape of the foot’s arch may also increase the risk of supination, with runners with high arches being more prone to supination than other people.Good shoes support the arch and soft tissues of the foot, which help protect the foot from injury. This is especially true when walking on hard and flat surfaces.
The wrong type of shoe — such as rigid or tight shoes — can lead to supination and other foot problems. Also, wearing shoes that are worn out or have no arch support causes supination.