The anatomical or structural characteristics that our body presents can have their origin in genetics, or as a result of trauma or diseases of different kinds. In addition, it should be noted that the repetition of a gesture continuously, as happens when we run, can also result in an anatomical error.
Athletics is one of the least injurious sports disciplines that exist, however, its practitioners are far from being safe from injuries. The best tools to prevent injuries among runners are to use the right type of footwear for their feet, to warm up properly and not to overtrain.
The following are the most frequent alterations that can affect the locomotor system:
- Valgus foot: it is said of the tendency to walk with the feet inward, pronation.
- Varus foot: is the tendency to walk with the feet outwards, supination.
- Flattened or lax foot: they are those that have no or little plantar vault, pronation.
- Pes cavus: have an increased plantar vault or have much arch.
- Adduction gait (ADD): is when the toes of both feet are tucked inward.
- Abducted gait (ABD): this is when the toes of both feet are turned outward.
- Genu valgus: the well-known X-shaped knees. They are usually accompanied by valgus foot and are associated with increased ligamentous laxity.
- Genu varus: these are the knees with corva shape, typical in riders, soccer players or arthritic processes.
- Dysymmetries: this is a different length of the lower limbs usually associated with scoliosis.
- Scoliosis: it is an abnormal curve of the spine in its frontal plane. It tends to appear in pubertal age.
- Kyphosis: this is an increased curvature of the dorsal spine.
- Hyperlordosis: an increase in physiological lordosis in the cervical or lumbar spine.
Which type of foot suffers more injuries?
Undoubtedly, the pronator, as it is responsible for a greater number of injuries. However, it is not only the foot that suffers, but also causes an increase in contractility and tension of the muscles and ligaments, which leads to tendon injuries, above all. In addition, it can affect the joints, and can injure the knee with the alarming patellar concromalacia, an injury that often cuts off the runner’s active training.
Nevertheless, the prognosis is not hopeless. Some runners simply suffer sporadic muscular overloads, while others who present an apparently correct morphology do not stop getting injured.
Generally speaking, any anatomical failure of the spinal column area will have a direct effect on the other sections. For this reason, a dorsal kyphosis is usually accompanied by cervical and lumbar hyperlordosis.
So, what is pronation?
It is a natural and necessary movement of the foot with which we try to soften the impact produced when stepping. This would be a physiological pronation, which does not exceed 6-8 degrees.
In cases where these figures are exceeded, the foot is supported with the upper to try to minimize the misalignment that is caused.
It is completely normal for a runner with physiological pronation to increase his pronation when arriving from a long distance race, without this being a problem.
However, when a person with increased pronation runs moderately or intensely for quite some time or several days a week, he or she will most likely end up injuring himself or herself.