The three main foot profiles
Do you repeatedly suffer from blisters or other pain? If so, it is time to take a closer look at your running shoes and how they fit your feet. To understand your feet properly, it is most important to find out if you are a neutral runner, a supinator or a pronator.
There are three main types of feet, or better: three pronation types. This describes the way the foot makes contact with the ground and how the subsequent gait cycle is performed, which highly depends on the shape, build and height of your plantar arch. Every foot requires a shoe that is designed to support its respective type of pronation. If this is not the case you are not perfectly balanced and you may feel pain in varying degrees.
The neutral runner
45 to 50 % of the population have a neutral balance. The roll of the foot is said to be neutral when it starts out from the outer part of the heel. Before hitting the ground, the foot slightly turns outwards. The forward roll then moves to the inside of the foot, finishing on the big toe at the moment of propulsion. Neutral runners most often have a balanced plantar arch and they wear off their soles uniformly.
The supinator
Supination is rather rare and only applies to around 10 % of the population. Supination refers to the outward roll of the foot during motion. As with the neutral roll, it starts via the outer part of the foot but does not finish by rolling inwards. On the contrary, the balance stays on the outer part of the foot until the very end of the roll, when it goes back to the inner part. Supinator runners are most likely to have a high arch and they wear off the outer part of their soles, the weight of the body pushing down on this side.
The pronator
Approximately 40 to 45% of the population are pronators. As with the previous two types, the motion starts via the outer part of the foot. Quickly though and in a more exaggerated way than with neutral balance, the foot rolls inwards and shifts the weight of the body out of balance. This again means the runner's weight is driven onto the big toe. Pronators most often have a flat arch and they wear off the inner part of the soles.
To avoid trouble with a shoe which doesn't fit the shape of the foot or the manner in which it rolls, shoe manufacturers have designed models for each of the three profiles. Come with your old shoes when you buy new ones as the salesperson will be able to guide you towards the right pair. In the event of extreme pronation or supination it is advisable to consult a chiropodist to get adequate insoles. There are no specific shoe models for supinators, but the "neutral" category will fullfill your needs. In case you suffer from excessive supination, please also consult a chiropodist for adequate insoles.
