Do Overpronators need stability shoes for walking?
It’s natural for the arch of your foot to flatten somewhat when you walk or run, as well as for your foot and ankle to roll in a bit as your foot hits the ground. “This is known as pronation, and it’s an essential component of gait,” says Dr. Mobley.
Overpronation—or excessive rolling of the foot and ankle, as well as arch flattening—can be harmful and lead to foot tiredness, discomfort, and injury.
What is overpronation and underpronation :
Overpronation occurs when the foot and ankle roll excessively down and inward while the arch flattens excessively. Dr. Logan explains, “Overpronation is excessive rolling of the foot and ankle downward and inward with significant arch flattening.” Underpronation, often known as supination, is the opposite, or “when each step sees the foot rotating
How can I tell if I’m overpronating?
There are a number of symptoms of overpronation. “One indication that you overpronate is that when standing barefoot, your arches or flat feet are very low,” Dr. Logan adds.
The Top Ten Best Walking Shoes for Overpronation and Flat Feet
Don’t worry if you have flat feet and overpronation.
We’ve created a list of the best flat feet shoes for men and women.
- The Brooks Ghost 11 walking shoes are excellent for those who want a unique pair of white shoes.
- The Saucony Men’s Grid Omni Walker Running Shoe
- Shoes Brooks Women’s walking Adrenaline GTS 19
- The ASICS Women’s Gel-Venture 6 Running Shoes are a popular choice.
- The first edition of the Nergize V1 sneaker from New Balance was designed for women.
- Women’s Vionic Delmar Remi Walking Shoes
- Mauna Casual Walking Shoes at Grossmont
- Vionic Serenity Metallic Flat feet Shoes
- GEL-QUANTUM 180 4 Women’s Running Shoe by ASICS
- Walking Shoes with Orthofeet Design
Reviewed and Approved
Brooks’ Ariel 20 is our top women’s pick, offering all-day comfort and built-in stability to assist with overpronation. The New Balance 990v5 provides foot support on both short treks and extended days.
Wearing motion-controlled (or stability) shoes is a good place to start when it comes to treating overpronation. Motion-control shoes can assist in the stabilization of your foot by “limiting the range of motion of the foot, limiting excessive pronation,” according to Dr. Staphos Lawless.
We spoke with five podiatrists to learn what to look for in a motion control shoe and to get any particular shoe suggestions. We put our top shoes to the test by walking 100 miles after further study.
The best motion control shoes for walking on the market, according to our research and testing, are as follows.
How We Picked the Best Walking Shoes for Overpronators
For three different walks, two testers put on each pair for a 3-mile walk at a moderate speed, a 3-mile walk at a fast pace, and a longer 5-6 mile trek at a moderate pace. All shoes were put to the test on roads and sidewalks with the exception of the trail shoe, which was tested on a flat
The cushioning, response, shock absorption, upper comfort, fit, lateral stability and support, and blister protection of each shoe were evaluated after each walk by our testers, who graded it on a scale of 1 (not suggested) to 5 (best in class). We also assigned a value score to each model by comparing the price to its overall quality.
What to Look for When Buying Walking Shoes for Overpronators
Arch Support
A thick, stiff, supportive midsole will support your arch and keep it from collapsing when you walk. This is often referred to as a “midline post” by shoe manufacturers. A solid sole may also aid in the provision of extra stability.
Some customers may find that a bespoke orthotic or semi-custom insert is beneficial to them for extra support. These can be used with neutral shoes or motion control shoes, depending on the degree of support required.
Cushioning
The impact of the foot striking the ground is absorbed by the shoe’s cushion, which is particularly significant on faster strides. Overpronators will benefit from an extra cushion in the heel and midsole, so be sure to check for it.
The thick sole at the heel is a positive indicator of extra cushion and support in motion control shoes.
Durability
A good pair of walking shoes should last for hundreds, if not thousands of miles. They should also withstand all-day usage if you plan to wear them for both exercise and errands.
All of these shoes are known for their durability, so you may count on them to last a long time.
Fit
“A properly fitting shoe will feel wonderful right from the start when you put it on, so there’s no need for a break-in period,” Grace Torres-Hodges, DPM, a podiatrist in Pensacola, FL.
You’ll also need a half-inch of leeway from the toe to the end of your shoe (or about the thumb). Choose a pair with a detachable insole and adequate extra room for your thicker orthotic insert if you use custom orthotics (or any other type of inserts).
Expert Opinion :
This is a wet test you can try. “Wet the bottom of your feet, then walk on colored paper. On the paper, an oval-like figure indicates a flat foot or an overpronator. A skinny question mark-like image indicates supination (under pronation) and something in between these two images is considered normal arch
The condition of your shoes may also assist you in determining if you overpronate. “Wear inside section of the outer sole? Excessive pronation? Look at them from behind on the floor. If they lean inward, this indicates that you overpronate.
Heel and arch pain, particularly when combined with any of the tests above, may indicate overpronation. Although not all foot discomfort is caused by overpronation.
What is overpronation and how can you treat it?
“Pre-fabricated or custom orthotics (insoles), motion control shoes, and strength exercises can all be used to help support the arch of the feet and the muscles that support the arches if overpronation is severe,” Dr. Logan adds.
Motion-control shoes can help you if you overpronate, but you may also want to see a podiatrist determine the best treatment and support for your feet.
