Overpronation, The Truth

Haille Gebrselassie and millions of runners world wide overpronate. And most run injury free. Haille doesn't wear motion control shoes, stability shoes, or orthotics. He doesn't suffer from injuries and ailments as a result of his overpronation. His pronation actually protects him upon impact. In most cases, it is a sign of weakness and poor technique elsewhere in your running gait, NOT a disease to be treated.

Category:

Sports

Tags:

• overpronation
• pronation
• running
• technique
• haille gebrselassie
• gait
• analysis
• injuries
• orthotics

[randalllfloyd]

I agree with creasprint. Every case is different. Haile must have a VERY strong Achilles tendon. It looks horribly bent in this clip

[njsportsmed]

he had surgery on his achilles, he has a super strong core/spine pelvis to head and runs from his hips, the correct way to run

[njsportsmed]

yes, may cause injury

basic neutral running shoe like what was made in the 70s/80s

would fall under competition/racing for most manufacturing (but not racing flats)

[timtak1]

10 km to school in the mornings, and 10km back!

[njsportsmed]

Love it! Thanks for the comment.

[booeing2007]

1) You've selected one (1) of the top runners to show that overpronatation is OK. That's similar to cigarette companies finding one smoker who hasn't died of cancer to prove smoke doesn't cause cancer.

2) In terms of efficiency, overpornation is bad because your force vector is not precisely lined up with where you want to go.

3) I don't have medical training and you do so your opinion would weigh much more; but, I think biomechanically this much overpronation cannot be right.

[njsportsmed]

I could fill You Tube with videos of 'overpronators' (if there is such a diagnosis, afterall it's an arbitrary angle with no science behind it) leading all of the marathon majors. Check out the lead group at the recent Rotterdam Marathon, everyone looks like Haille. Prolonged 'overpronation' is bad, not 'overpronation' in and of itself. Again, remember you can't just look at the feet. You've missed the point, sincerely, George Burns.

[thebbk]

There is a very significant point made here which I think may be getting overlooked. The amount of time his foot stays on the ground is very small. He is efficient in that he lands under his body - not out in front, then lifts his foot up very quickly - as opposed to pushing off. He doesn't crash his heels. Most recreational runners land on their heels - out in front, pull themselves over their feet then end with a strong push off while in a overpronated position. That's how trouble starts.

[timtak1]

about overpronation.

1) overpronation is nature's way of protecting from shocks.

2) Gebrselassie uses overpronation to protect himself from the shock of the speed he's running at.

3) Overweight people overprone to protect themselves from the shock of overweight even at low speed.

4) They could slow down still further but then they would hardly even be jogging.

5) If they wear shoes to prevent OP, then they'll hurt their knees.

6) They need to loose weight or stop jogging.

[orbitboy]

I don't think that's Geb in the video. Google his other running videos (they're quite numerous) and notice how different the arm carriage is, as well as foot strike. This guy is obvioulsy qhite fast, but I don't think it's Geb.

[crimsonmonieful]

Haile doesn't do this anymore. I used to do the same thing. I had hyper pronation. I had surgery and I'm not sure if it is helping me much.

[runlevel0]

@MrGuitaristMatt The 'average runner' weights around 120 pounds ;)

Maybe the average European / US reacreational runner may be in the 140-150 range but athletes, even tall ones range between a 7 and 17% of body fat index so that even a guy of standard heigh (taht's 5.7 - 5.8 or 1.71m -1.72m) can weight 120 pounds. It's thus not such a special advantage, specially not compared to other elites.

[runlevel0]

You are right, I just forgot the "little" detail that he was a kid then! And I bet it wasn't only to school he had to run: Anywhere you have to go in these countries you have to go by foot. I dont' agree with people who say that Ethiopians or Kenians are genetically predisposed, these guys are good because they train hard and are extremely motivated.

[timtak1]

@runlevel0 According to his wikipedia article it was 10km (or about 6 miles) to school and back. It is perhaps not so far for an adult runner but for a primary(?) school child...ooh...And also think of the hope. He was running himself into a new future, out of his village and into the big wide world.

[runlevel0]

@timtak1 that's not so much. 6 miles is a short run. Sure it wasn't 10 miles ?

[tadaa11]

@MrGuitaristMatt Those three things ultimately attach to muscle, which get tired and lose stability. Watch someone hit the wall in a marathon. They literally fall inward with each step and sometimes fall down and cant get up. Pronation is normal, btw. These anti pronation shoes allow people to run way further than they should be running. Running bare foot for like 6 months is a great way to learn what your body can handle and also how to build up without breaking down tendons.

[MrGuitaristMatt]

Also, note that Haile Gebrselassie weighs around 120 pounds, so he has significantly less weight to deal with than the average runner.

[MrGuitaristMatt]

@tadaa11 That makes no sense at all. Your bones, ligaments, and tendons don't stop working when you get tired...

[Shorty20122012]

So the point of this is that I need to strengthen my midsection/core(?) so that I don't get injuries while running due to pronation?

What exercises should I be doing?

I saw in another video, a guy describing having to correct the hip posture in order to strengthen the tendons that go from your waist down to your ankles. What do you think about that?