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Pronation / Supination
Rating
Pronation is the natural slight inward roll of the foot upon landing that helps absorb impact. Supination is insufficient rolling (the foot remains overly 'rigid', tilting outward).
In detail
Moderate pronation is normal, not a pathology: it helps dampen impact load. Only excessive pronation ('overpronation') or insufficient pronation is considered a problem, as it can overload certain structures of the foot and lower leg. The running shoe industry long marketed shoes 'for your pronation type,' but modern research casts doubt on the benefit of this approach.
How to use it
Don't choose running shoes based solely on a pronation type determined by a single in-store test — subjective comfort of the shoe and gradual adaptation when switching models matter far more.