The way you walk – if you walk incorrectly – can cause a variety of problems throughout your entire body, from your knees and ankles to your knees all the way up to your hips and back. Foot pronation, the term given to people who walk with their feet rolling inward, can throw the body’s alignment out of sync. In addition, foot pronation refers to the rolling-in or flattening out of the foot's arch (flat feet).

There are many different reasons why you could be suffering from foot pronation. Excessive foot pronation can be present at birth or develop at an early age. Foot pronation is often hereditary. Other causes of excessive foot pronation include weakened muscles due to aging or heavy strain, standing or walking for long periods of time in high heels or simply wearing shoes that don’t provide enough arch support. All these factors can contribute to your development of foot pronation.

Many people can treat excessive foot pronation just by wearing proper shoes that provide support and stability through the arch. In addition, you can wear custom orthotics or insoles that support the arch and help stabilize the heel to help treat and prevent excessive foot pronation.

You can find many of these products and supportive shoes for foot pronation right here at FootSmart.

FootSmart Top-Selling Products to Correct Foot Pronation

FootSmart Posture Corrective Heel Cups: These TPE gel heel cups help correct foot pronation or supination and provide superior heel cushioning and shock absorption. Note: Sufferers of foot pronation should wear these heel cups with the thicker portion on the inside of the heel. Those with supination should do the opposite.

BioBalance Inserts: These inserts cradle, stabilize and support your feet as you walk to help correct foot pronation and supination. Under the heel, a special Vari-Wedge® works with a biomechanically designed arch support system to help control incorrect foot motion, so your feet hit the ground more evenly, keeping your lower body in proper alignment and easing lower body pain due to foot pronation.

New Balance 'Stability Walker 811' Velcro Walking Shoes for Men and Women: These walking shoes provide exceptional rear foot stability due to New Balance’s Graphite Rollbar, plus a Walking Strike Path™ to stabilize feet and help correct foot pronation and supination. Other features include a breathable upper, supportive cushioning and a durable, polyurethane outsole for great traction.

FootSmart.com has several products to help you with foot pronation. See all foot pronation relief products here.

In extreme cases of foot pronation, surgery may be required to stabilize the bones and improve foot support and function. A podiatrist or orthopedic doctor can advise if surgery is necessary to correct your specific case of foot pronation.

Information on foot, leg and lower body health conditions like foot pronation provided by The Podiatry Institute, dedicated to advancing the standard of care in podiatric medicine and its effects on musculoskeletal health.