Pronation refers to the rotational movement of the foot or hand. Most of the time the reference will be to the movement of the foot as it takes each step during walking or running.
Pronation of the Foot
Pronation of the foot is a combination of three movements: eversion (turning of the sole outwards), dorsiflexion (pointing of the toes upward), and abduction (pointing of the toes out to the side).
Pronation of the Hand
Pronation of the hand or wrist involves rotating the palm downward. Sports such as baseball, tennis, and boxing all involve pronation of the wrist.
Injuries
There are several injuries associated with pronation. Most of them are due to repeated over-pronation. The injuries include shin splints, anterior compartment syndrome, patello-femoral pain syndrome, plantar fasciitis, tarsal tunnel syndrome, bunions and Achilles tendonitis
Function
Pronation is an important part of walking and running. It is critical to proper shock absorption during walking and running, and allows for a little spring in each step.
Supination
The opposite movement of pronation is supination. Supination in the foot is when the foot rolls outward. Supination of the hand is a rotation of the palm upward.
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