Understanding your gait type; neutral, pronation or supination
Specifically designed to support the arch of the foot, our Twist compression stockings help correct pronation or supination of the foot. Whether it's our short compression stockings , our mid-calf compression stockings or our long compression stockings , our Twist design stockings help improve posture and the efficiency of any foot movement. They are also designed to stimulate the first blood pump which will help reduce inflammation in the feet. A single twist from one side to the other will help correct pronation or supination and thus prevent injuries.
But what is Pronation and Supination?
What type of stride do you have?
Pronation, pronating stride
Pronation is when the foot tends to roll inward during the stride.
Supination, supinator stride
Supination is when the foot tends to collapse outward in the stride.
There is also a neutral or universal stride.
A neutral stride is a perfect alignment of the foot.
How do you determine if you are a pronator, supinator, or neutral?
While it's still important to consult a healthcare professional, such as a podiatrist, to determine your gait type. However, if you're experiencing pain or have serious ankle problems or sprains, consult a professional.
There are a few useful tips for determining your stride type.
First, look at the sole of your running shoes.
The wear areas on your running shoes will help you determine your type.
If you notice wear concentrated on the inside of the soles, your stride will be pronated. Conversely, if you notice wear on the outside of the soles, your stride will be supinated.
Another trick is to dip your foot in a bowl of water and then place it on a piece of cardboard or paper (a colored piece of cardboard usually makes it easier to see the water mark made by your foot). If you see a "normal" footprint, you probably have a neutral gait. If your footprint is visible as a mark covering your entire foot, a "flat" foot, your gait type is generally pronator. Conversely, if your mark is thin, and you only see the tip of your heel and toes, your gait type is generally supinator.
Determining your stride type is crucial for any runner. It's even more crucial when purchasing running shoes. Indeed, some running shoes are designed based on stride types. Choosing the wrong shoes can lead to injuries. It's best to avoid them.
Our “Twist” compression stockings
So we come back to our “Twist” stockings which help to correct pronation or supination of the foot.
The design of our "Twist" stockings is such that to help correct pronation or supination of the foot, simply "twist" the stocking to one side or the other. To do this, put the stocking on at toe level with the bottom on top (with the number designating the size and the letter designating the right or left side of the stocking) on top of your toes. Then...
To correct pronation; turn the stocking outward to the heel.
To correct supination, turn the stockings inward to the heel.
The heel must be firmly in place, in the correct position. Only the toes will be positioned in reverse (bottom on top). See the video below.
This brings us to mention that it is for this reason, among other things, and also due to the advanced design of our stockings, that we have a "right" stocking and a "left" stocking. Do not interchange your stockings, they are designed to be worn on the right foot.
Our "twist" compression stockings are medical grade. Their compression level, measured in mmHg, is 20-25 mmHg. Compression will increase for our short stockings when they are "twisted", the same goes for our long twist stockings which will have a level of 25-30 mmHg once "twisted" in recovery mode.
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