The foundation of any great work out is quite simply the foundation on which you stand. Your feet will impact every component of your quest to be fit. Take note of some common foot difficulties of which you should be aware in order to prevent injury and stay on track.

PRONATING
Pronating occurs when the foot rolls inward excessively when walking or running. This causes the weight to be improperly distributed and can lead to over use injuries in even young exercisers. When this improper alignment is present in someone who is over weight, ankle, knee and hip problems are far more common and often deter continued exercise adherence. Other risks from this condition include Achilles tendonitis, heel spurs, and leg pain. Choosing shoes carefully to match the support required by a given activity are critically important for those who tend to over pronate. That means use walking shoes for walking, not running. Running shoes are for running, not tennis. Orthotics from a podiatrist can often assist in correcting this difficulty.
(www.podiatry.net)

SUPINATING
In essence, supination is the exact opposite of pronation. If you wear out the soles of your shoes from the outside in, you may supinate. This can put a lot of undue tension on both you Achilles tendons and illio-tibial bands. Typically, this issue relates to both the improper weight distribution on the foot and weak piriformis muscles. Again, a podiatrist, chiropractor, or physical therapist can assess and recommend appropriate foot wear and/or corrective devices and exercises to improve function. Pain from the middle of the arch to the ankles to knees to hips to low back can indicate this difficulty. Consulting a medical professional is necessary to avoid long term consequences from such a foot pattern. (www.webmd.com)

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