A foot that is pronated excessively is widely believed to be one of the most common risk factors for the development of a wide range of overuse problems in the lower limb. The Interpod prefabricated foot orthoses not only support the foot, but are effective in stopping the foot from pronating. View the research here. This change that the foot orthotics effect in the foot posture aims to protect the body from the acute and chronic injuries which may develop as a result of poor foot mechanics. More information on foot biomechanics

Some of the most common problems are:

If the foot pronates excessively, the arch of the foot elongates stretching the plantar fascia which may become strained and inflamed. Pain is often worse after rest, or first thing in the morning. Plantar fasciitis may also be due to forces needed to establish the windlass mechanism. Interpod prefabricated foot orthoses invert the rearfoot (to prevent excessive pronation) and have a plantar fascial groove (to facilitate function of the windlass mechanism). More information on plantar fasciitis

As the foot pronates, the lower leg internally rotates. If excessive, the alignment of the patella is affected as it crosses from the upper to the lower leg. This increases the risk for the development of patellofemoral pain syndrome. Foot orthoses are needed as part of the comprehensive rehabilitation of this problem. The foot orthoses need to be able to invert the calcaneus to prevent the foot from pronating excessively. Not all prefabricated foot orthoses have been shown to do this - view this research here. More information on patellofemoral painsyndrome

Pain along the medial border of the tibia is a common overuse injury. Excessive pronation of the foot has been shown to be a risk factor for the development of medial tibial stress syndrome. Foot orthoses need to be able to reduce this excessive pronation, providing that they can invert the calcaneus. The Interpod range of prefabricated foot orthoses have been shown to do this - read this research here. More information on medial tibial stress syndrome

As the foot pronates the posterior tibial muscle and tendon complex work hard to prevent this. If it cannot, over time, posterior tibial dysfunction develops. If the forces pronating the foot are higher this is more likely to occur. The result is a progressive painful flat foot. A foot orthoses used to treat this problem needs to over come this pronatory force. Read more research on supination resistance here. More information on posterior tibial tendon dysfunction

When then foot pronates excessively, the leg internally rotates and the pelvis tilts forward. This malaginment can be responsible for a range of complaints from just being fatigued to pain in the lower back. The patients that tend to benefit the most from foot orthoses, are those who symptoms are made worse with prolonged standing (this indicates that the problem is mechanical in nature). As there can be many other cause for more proximal symptoms, the Interpod range of prefabricated foot orthoses are a sensible approach to alter foot biomechanics.

As the foot pronates, the arch flattens which changes the alignment of the muscle pull on the hallux. Over time poor foot alignment combined with excessive pronation can result in deviation of the big toe towards the second toe. Associated bony thickening, or bunion formation, can develop at the base of the first MTPJ. More information on hallux abducto valgus (hallux valgus)