Orthotics and Foot Pronation Problems 

Hi Dean, I wanted to share with you how helpful I am finding these videos. I only started watching recently, but I am learning a lot about my condition that has seemed untreatable for several years. Thank you so much for sharing with the world.

I have *exactly* the same issue as you: my left foot has a higher arch and is slightly supinated as a result. When I started jogging regularly, I developed severe pain in the area of the big toe joint on the left foot, I couldn't put any weight on the left big toe at all because it hurt too much. I got prescribed orthotics that stabilized my foot and lowered my big toe / big toe joint. I wore them for 7 or 8 years, the pain got better but my feet became super weak and my legs and hips became stiff as hell, I also started developing pain in my right hip and regularly had cramps in my hamstrings and hip muscles. I couldn't pronate my foot *at all* anymore and couldn't walk in shoes without the orthotics anymore as my feet would hurt after about 10 minutes, especially the left one. Last year I decided I had enough and started doing lots and lots of mobility exercises for the feet, legs and hips. At the same time I started transitioning to minimal shoes. It took only a few weeks for my feet to become noticeably stronger and way more stable. I can finally use my left big toe again and it even extends almost as much as my right one (it was super rigid before). Currently I'm working on strenthening my feet, legs, hips and core with a main focus on peroneus and glute medius. The pain has vanished completely and I've completely transitioned to barefoot shoes. My feet feel better than ever, they're mobile and strong. The kind of orthotics you're talking about sound much better than the ones I was wearing (they actually had a completely rigid plastic base around the heel), but for now, I'm so so happy that I can walk properly with barefoot shoes that actually allow me to feel the ground, I *love* it and I don't hate walking anymore either as I used to.

I went to see a podiatrist almost 20 years ago and she assessed my feet and got me into orthotics, which did cost a bit but now have doubled in price.... I do rockjumping and trekking as sport and require certain types of 5mm < drop sneakers.... over the past 4 or 5 years I have been developing knee pain and have seen several podiatrist and also been to physiotherapy a couple of times which the physio seems to help a little bit, but is hard to maintain. But what I have been finding, through my own observation, that as sneakers have been advancing and the technology improving in terms of midsole foam, in order to get them more responsive and yet a little softer, such as Skechers Hyperburst, or Asics Flighfoam and Flighfoam plus, and Hoka's Profly foams, and similar phone's like Nike react and Adidas ultraboost, the bulk at the back of the orthotics, which is meant to straighten your foot and keep it up, actually forces down into the mid sole foam causing creasing in the inner heel, crushing the foam down digging into it, and not only prematurely wearing it out in 1 to 2 months, and destroying these very expensive shoes, but then causing you to overpronate at the heel putting a lot of strain on your knee.... and this makes the overpronation much more worse and unnatural..... I'm trying to do away with the orthotics now bit-by-bit, because it is very hard to stop using them particularly after so long and needs to be a gradual process..... but I must say my knee is already feeling better..... podiatrist do not tell you of these things can expect you to accommodate the orthotics to buy very firm shoes which maker running and sports like mine impossible..... on top of that, my particular podiatrist will not admit that the orthotics are doing this, when it is plain to see..... my recommendation is as much as it is possible to stay away for orthotics because as the guy in this video says they are only a crutch and if you want to own and run in high-end sneakers, it will not be possible..... .... but if there is no pain and you can still walk and run and do other exercises without orthotics and you do some what overpronate, I would not necessarily rush out there and try to fix it with orthotics..... although my podiatrist is very stubborn, my physiotherapist said he does not usually recommend orthotics but rather shoes that very lightly correct overpronation f it is causing pain or a problem; but if it isn't, is it really necessary to fix it.......

I love my PRI made orthotics, been using them for 6 years. They make my feet comfortable without controlling my feet. The control has to come from the hips as you discuss.

Has anyone tried the PRI orthotics with zero drop shoes like the Altra shoes? I understand why minimalist, thin and flexible shoes are not appropriate for people who have overpronation and cannot sense the ground properly. But I still think that zero drop shoes are better than shoes with a heel lift (e.g. Asics, Mizuno etc).

My body is a mess and im only 24! Really think my cranium or jaw is the root of all my issues. Chronic plantar facitis on the right foot (its supinated) right ab wall pain, right neck scm are incredibly tight and spasm, jaw and cranial pain on the right. My right ribs are more forward (neck or head influence?) More bite on the right side. The problem is finding someone who can help. Really thankful for your vida though Neal

Through your fascia, you can manipulate your foot pronation and gait. Starts at the shoulders. Use a wheeled chair to develop strength and of consequence flexibility in your hips, baa k and legs. Roll backwards and forwards, focusing on keeping back straight, knee over foot or a little outside and the pad behind big toe and heel grounded and toes resting. Worked for me with my issues.

Where can I get my orthotics made ?

Do you happen to know about Foundation Training / Dr. Goodman? The combination of his knowledge together with yours is what made it able for me to fix my body. (because he teaches so well how to get out of pain, but just doesn't go into the Asymmetry / PRI stuff) I know its not gonna happen, but a video interview between you two would be the most stunning thing I could imagine! As always, thanks so much

Fascinating!!! And so helpful!!

10:30 definitely need to highlight this for hyper mobility. Didn’t know this before

thank you desperately for this video neal!!! ive been looking through these trying to solve breathing issues with my pelvic tilt... and my gf has hypermobility, scoliosis, and MAST CELL histamine issues that may be all caused by a simple lack of grounding. now in the market for a new pair of shoes 😁 thank you again :)

Great insight into the mechanics of the windlass mechanism Neil, thoroughly enjoyed the breakdown of a complicated mechanism. What do you do if the lower/mid back region has tightened up, due to this inability to supinate on the left foot you describe, so much aso that you can't get a neurological feel on the left hamstringstring&internal rotator muscle? It's like the lower floating rib has seized up over time.

Hey Neal, your content has helped me a ton. Could you go over some right serratus techniques? That’s the muscle that I can’t seem to crack no matter what.

Can other custom orthotics instead of pri orthotics work?

Dear Mr. Neal, You have single handedly managed to do over videos what several professional therapist couldn't in several days and hundreds of dollars in person. I have been following your recommended beginner routine and it has helped immensely. My constant right si joint pain is gone, all that I have now is this painfull tightness in my low back that prevents me from going to full flexion. I have found several videos that are allegedly from pri which include breathing into the low back in full flexion. If i go into a 3rd world squat and decide to just hang there the tightness is considerable, and if I breathe into my low back in that position the pain is there. Do I continue doing that after I finish your exercises? Would you prescribe another form of exercise for that problem? Again thank you for everything that you do, you are sharing real knowledge and we all now there is so little of that nowdays.

Great video thanks Neal :) I'm enjoying sone new inner soles in my wellies walking Is a lot easier. Also noticed my left knee farther forward than my right during a squat and thought I felt hamstring on the left but it was the lateral hamstring! Getting the central and inner ones have been a huge help! As ever thanks for your knowledge. Would be interested to hear your take on barefoot running which seems natural but misses the recomnended heel strike ? Thanks in advance, Olly

hello sir neal i just want to thank you for everything.. I really learned a lot from your videos.. God Bless..

Your videos are amazing.

So orthotics will help ? I can insert them in any shoe ? Right

Please make a video on how to choose heel for the left shoes for left aic pattern.

Great

Can you tell some paper towel techniques instead of orthotics?. I’m stuck in left aic right bc pattern. But I’m still weightlifting. And is it fine to squat deep with this patterned body? And I’m hypermobile too. Is it because Of hyper mobility, I can squat deep easily?

Hey Neal, this is a weird question but was wondering if you could share any insight. I've become very aware of the way I walk - I can tell I'm generally in the left AIC gait pattern (my torso feels like its orienting to the left and my pelvis to the right) Its become a bit of a pain to walk as I feel like im fighting myself to get straight. It helps when I look at the ground for some reason. I am working with a PRI therapist but she thinks that I must get stabilized mentally (get rid of the anxiety) before seeing if I actually need dental/visual intervention. I may have cranial issues as when I rest my head on the right side my anxiety shoots through the roof. Am I crazy here?

What is your take on barefoot shoes while using pri orthotics to negate the negative affects of unnatural high heels and the sensory deprivation of all the excessive cushioning on shoes like ASICS?

Hey Neal, just curious did you get the regular length or the 3/4 length PRI orthotic. And why?

You should do a collab with GaitHappens.

Do you know anyone in UK that works as you do?

What do you think of zero point shoes?

Hey Neal. Can you get a orthotic just for the right foot to make it pronate and feel even grounding more?

hi Neal sir , I mailed you regarding appointment . please check . I am in misery and going through torrid time .

First!