When your palm or sole is face-up, it is supinated.
This is the opposite of pronation, which is the downward rotation of the forearm or foot.
If you supinate your hand while your arms are over your head, the palm is facing backward.
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As such, supination is a normal part of how the foot moves throughout a step.
Pronation is the movement of your feet when you walk.
Its normal to have neutral pronation.
This is done with the ankle of that foot rolling out and the toes and sole facing in.
This is also called under-pronation or having high arches.
It involves plantar flexion, adduction, and inversion of the foot.
Excessive wear on the outer edge of the sole is an indicator of supination.
What Causes Supination Problems?
Supination in your forearm means that your palms are facing up.
Your arms are supposed to be able to turn up this way.
If you have supination problems in your feet, its not normal and will affect how you walk.
There are also risk factors it’s possible for you to change.
How Are Supination Problems Diagnosed?
Sometimes, its fairly easy to diagnose the causefor example, if youve broken your arm.
Supination problems in your feet are not always something you have control over.
For example, you cant change your genes or the way your feet are shaped.
Summary
Supination means turning your arm with your palms up.
In your feet, supination is not normal.
It means that your foot and ankle roll out too much when you walk.
Over time, this can cause pain and discomfort.
If its severe, supination can also be fixed surgically.
That said, there are some things you could do to attempt to fix the problem.
Physical therapists may be able to help you strengthen muscles and loosen tendons to ease over-supination.
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