In general, overpronation refers to how you walk, which can cause flat feet. The condition of flat feet is characterized by little to no arch in the foot. It is possible to inherit flat feet or develop them over time. People can have flat feet because their arches never developed. Your arches might collapse as a result of injury to the leg tendon that supports them. The condition is referred to as adult-acquired flat feet or fallen arches.
Overpronation
What is overpronation?
Overpronation is when your ankles roll inwards when you walk. It is a common GAIT problem that can cause your feet to fatigue quickly while walking or running. With too much pronation, your foot rolls inwards too far and you put pressure on your shins and knees. Too much pronation can lead to joint, muscle and knee pain. It can also make walking and running difficult and cause foot pain.
Your arches are the bones on the bottom of your feet that support your weight and help you maintain your balance when you move. Your arches play a crucial role in supporting the legs and knees. A normal arch height for an adult is between 5-6 centimeters. People with flat feet have low or no arches, and this can lead to other problems like ankle pain, knee problems, hip problems and lower back pain. Foot complications caused by flat feet can make it uncomfortable to walk or even stand for long periods. The condition can also lead to other problems with your legs like Achilles tendonitis and shin splints.
Causes of Flat Feet
The primary cause of flat feet is overuse of the muscles in the leg that are connected to the arch. This can lead to the weakening of these muscles and cause the arch to fall. Other causes include sprains and strains to the ligaments that support the arch, and some babies are born with flat feet because of problems with the development of the bones in the foot.
Additional factors that can contribute to developing flat feet include;
1. Diabetes
2.obesity,
3. Arthritis,
4. Pregnancy,
5. An inherited abnormality in the foot structure
6. The use of certain medications
Symptoms
The symptoms of flat feet typically develop gradually over some time. However, they can also develop rapidly following an injury to the foot. The most common symptoms of flat feet include pain in the ankles, legs, and lower back, as well as difficulty walking and performing other physical activities. Other symptoms may include numbness or tingling in the toes, calluses on the bottom of the feet, and heel spurs.
Knee Pains
When the foot arch flattens on the ground, it creates a knock-off effect leading to misalignment of the lower body. The flattened foot arch causes the shin and thigh bones to abnormally twist inwards, adding stress on the knee joint and sometimes causing pain.
Knock-Knees
In severe cases, an individual can have knock-knees in which the knees touch each other or point toward each other while standing.
Treatments
Flat feet can be treated with rest, pain medications, physical therapy, and anti-inflammatory medications. If the cause is found to be a medical condition such as diabetes or arthritis, your doctor may recommend treating the condition with medication or a change in your diet. In some cases, surgery may be necessary to repair the damaged ligaments and restore normal function to the foot.
Tips to prevent the development of flat feet
There are a few things you can do to prevent the recurrence of flat feet. Your physician may suggest that you change the type of shoes you wear or wear inserts called orthotics that provide extra support to the bottom of the foot. Exercising the muscles in your feet regularly will also help strengthen your arches and reduce pressure on your joints. Today, there are patented technologies, that create custom moulded orthotics to support the feet. That can be an ideal solution for people who are suffering from these conditions.
See a doctor if your symptoms are severe or do not improve after a few weeks of treatment.
Sponsored: At FootBalance, we provide custom moulded insoles to your shoes, so that these conditions can be managed scientifically with the newest technologies we have.
New insights highlight infrastructure, digital innovation, and sustainability shaping regional trade
CAPE TOWN, South Africa, April 24, 2025/APO Group/ –As trade corridors expand and the demand for sustainable supply chain solutions grows, Reload Logistics (www.ReloadLogistics.com) has released an industry outlook report titled “Unlocking Southern Africa’s Trade Potential in 2025 and Beyond.” The report sheds light on transformative trends in infrastructure, trade integration, and digital innovation driving Southern Africa’s logistics landscape.
Key insights from the report include:
Critical Minerals Driving Growth: Southern Africa provides around 30% of the world’s critical minerals for electric vehicles, including cobalt and copper, contributing to the transition towards cleaner energy.
Strategic Infrastructure Investments: The Kasomeno-Mwenda Road Project is removing over 300km from DRC-to-Tanzania routes, while the Dar es Salaam Maritime Gateway Project plans to double port capacity to 30 million tons by 2030.
Technological Transformation: Tech logistics solutions have improved route optimization by up to 15%.
Sustainability Imperatives: By 2030, demand for green logistics could reach approximately $350 billion globally, with exporters increasingly adopting lower-carbon transport options.
Transformative Trade Corridors: Port developments at Dar es Salaam, Durban, Walvis Bay, and Beira are enhancing efficiencies and opening cross-border opportunities.
The report projects that by 2030, the African Continental Free Trade Area will boost intra-African trade by over 50%, creating new commodity flows while regional infrastructure investments address network gaps.
Download the full report (https://apo-opa.co/3RuAwLx) to explore how your business can stay ahead in the evolving logistics landscape of Southern Africa.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Reload Logistics
African Mining Week 2025 will convene global investors in Cape Town to explore financing strategies, geopolitical trends and ESG factors driving Africa’s mineral industrialization
CAPE TOWN, South Africa, April 24, 2025/APO Group/ –African Mining Week (AMW) – taking place from October 1–3, 2025, in Cape Town – will connect global investors with high-impact opportunities across Africa’s mining sector, spotlighting the strategies fueling the continent’s mineral industrialization.
A key highlight of the event will be a high-level panel, The Investor Perspective: Financing Africa’s Mineral Industrialization. The session will explore the evolving investment landscape and examine diverse financing mechanisms – including bank loans, private equity, venture capital and impact investing – that are mobilizing capital into African mining.
DFIs Drive Infrastructure Investments
Attracted by strong returns and Africa’s long-term growth potential, development finance institutions (DFIs) are ramping up investments into the continent’s mining infrastructure. In March 2025, the African Development Bank approved a $150 million loan to Mauritania’s state-owned mining company SNIM and committed $500 million to the Lobito Corridor – a strategic railway project linking Angola, the DRC and Zambia to international markets. Meanwhile, the Africa Finance Corporation (AFC) is backing several critical mineral projects, including Nyanza Light Metals’ $780 million PGMs facility in South Africa, Gecamines’ expansion in the DRC, Giyani Metals’ manganese development in Botswana and FG Gold’s project in Sierra Leone. Between 2014 and 2024, AFC invested over $1 billion into Africa’s mining sector. The U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) is also deepening its commitment, providing more than $750 million toward the Lobito Corridor, $34 million for Pensana’s Longonjo rare earths project in Angola and $3.2 million to Chillerton’s green copper development in Zambia.
Geopolitics and African Prospects
Geopolitical shifts are intensifying the global race for Africa’s critical minerals, vital for the energy transition and digital economy. From 2019 to 2023, companies from the United Arab Emirates committed over $110 billion to African projects. In early 2025, UAE-based Ambrosia Investment Holding acquired a 50% stake in Allied Gold’s projects in Ethiopia and Mali, investing $375 million to scale up gold production. Canadian mining investment on the continent has now surpassed $37 billion, with companies like Ivanhoe Mines, Fortuna Silver, Pioneer Lithium and Trigon Metals leading expansion efforts. Similarly, Australia’s mining footprint in Africa reached $60 billion in asset value in 2024, supported by firms such as Sovereign Metals, Cazaly Resources and Atlantic Lithium.
Private Placements
Private placements are emerging as a preferred capital-raising vehicle for mining ventures across Africa. Companies including Zanaga Iron Ore, Moab Minerals, Global Atomic Corporation, Premier African Minerals and Trigon Metals are leveraging this mechanism to fast-track project development and attract investor interest. As ESG criteria take center stage in investment decision-making, AMW will serve as a platform for financiers and project developers to engage on sustainability metrics, transparency and responsible investing.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Energy Capital & Power
Moore Global has partnered with the U.S.-Africa Energy Forum in Houston to enhance investment in Africa’s energy and critical minerals sectors, leveraging its financial expertise to support sustainable resource development and global market integration
HOUSTON, United States, April 24, 2025/APO Group/ –The U.S.-Africa Energy Forum (USAEF) is pleased to announce a strategic partnership with Moore Global, a leading global accounting, audit and advisory network, to drive investment and collaboration in Africa’s energy sector, with a focus on critical minerals. This partnership underscores the growing significance of Africa’s mineral resources in supporting global energy transitions and securing supply chains for key industries, including oil and gas, renewables and battery technologies.
Moore Global brings decades of expertise in financial advisory, investment facilitation and strategic consulting across key markets, including Africa. With a strong presence in the region, the firm has played a pivotal role in guiding energy and natural resource investments, helping stakeholders navigate regulatory environments and optimizing project financing. Given Africa’s vast reserves of critical minerals essential for clean energy and industrial applications – estimated to hold approximately 30% of the world’s proven volumes – Moore Global’s involvement in USAEF will enhance discussions on sustainable extraction, value chain development and the continent’s positioning in global markets.
As part of the forum, Moore Global will lead a dedicated private equity session on financing African energy projects, featuring in-depth discussions on deal structuring, risk mitigation and capital deployment. As a premier platform for U.S.-Africa energy cooperation, USAEF brings together investors, policymakers and industry leaders to catalyze deals and partnerships across the energy value chain. Through this collaboration, Moore Global will provide thought leadership, financial expertise and strategic insights – reinforcing USAEF’s mission to accelerate investment in Africa’s oil, gas and critical minerals sectors. With energy security and resource independence high on the global agenda, the partnership aims to shape impactful investment strategies and policy frameworks that support Africa’s long-term growth.
Moore Global’s partnership with USAEF marks a crucial step in advancing Africa’s energy and critical minerals sectors
“We are delighted to be a key part of this forum. Our global expertise, coupled with our sector knowledge and global relationships, means we can add real value to these conversations and ongoing energy projects. Moore has a wealth of knowledge and insight to share, and I look forward to working closely with all of those involved,” said Candice Czeremuskin, Moore Global Leader, Private Equity.
“Moore Global’s partnership with USAEF marks a crucial step in advancing Africa’s energy and critical minerals sectors. With their deep understanding of financial structures and investment landscapes, they bring valuable expertise that will help bridge the gap between African resource holders and global capital markets. We look forward to working together to drive meaningful engagement and sustainable investment in Africa’s future,” said James Chester, CEO, Energy Capital & Power.
For tickets, sponsorship opportunities and more information, please contact sales@energycapitalpower.com. Join us in Houston this August to connect with the leaders shaping Africa’s energy landscape and experience the momentum that drives ECP’s events worldwide.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Energy Capital & Power
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