STUNNED!... is the response some runners have once they find out their gait is actually neutral, not overpronated. Tanya was no different when she visited Lucky Foot yesterday. She had been experiencing lateral knee pain symptomatic of ITB syndrome. Her gait had been assessed years ago and she was told she overpronated. She was also told she needed stability shoes. As her pain issues continued she kept purchasing shoes with more stability. Oddly enough each increase in stability seemed to correspond with increases in pain. We took the time to evaluate Tanyas running gait. She clearly demonstrated a neutral left foot however, her right foot did something a little unexpected. It underpronated. The underpronated right foot was obvious enough for Tanyas friend Kathryn to see it as well. After I explained this, Tanyas first reaction was Im stunned. No one had ever shared this with her before. She had always been told she needed stability and therefore believed it. But what we shared with her about her right foot, and leg, corresponded with what her chiropractor told her a few years back. It all started to make sense now. Her running shoes were overcorrecting her gait. We suggested a few neutral shoes. After test running them Tanya picked the model that felt the best to her. Now we are just waiting to hear back about her progress. FACT: 70% of all running shoes sold are in the stability/control category. But only 35% of runners demonstrate a need for that type of shoe. CONCLUSION: If your running shoes are from the stability/control category there is a 50% chance you are being overcorrected.
Posted on: Wed, 09 Apr 2014 14:54:10 +0000