| The walking cycle or "foot step"
uses all parts of the foot including: bones, joints, muscles,
tendons, ligaments, blood vessels, lymphatics, nerves, and bursae.
This complex process is taken for granted until a foot problem
develops.
The walking cycle begins at heel contact with the ground and
ends when the great toe leaves the ground. Heel contact occurs
with a slightly inverted foot and accounts for the wear and tear
of the heel on shoes. |
The foot is flat during 2/3 of the
walking cycle (this is called pronation). This absorbs the shock
of weight bearing. When the foot is flat, it bears all of the
body weight, and it is stabilized by bone alignment of the arch
and is supported by strong ligaments, the muscles of the foot,
among other systems.
As the foot contacts the walking surface there is a forward "push".
Push off begins as the body weight is transferred to the ball
of the foot, and partly the toes. |
|
When the foot goes through the same motion over and over every day, it is important
that all the parts of the foot repeat the walking cycle in a stable
manner. Everything needs to work in the balance that nature planned
it to be. If not, pain is the most common symptom and usually
it doesn't stop at affecting only the foot.
|
The pain generally moves from the foot up, affecting the ankle, the knee, the
hips...etc.
Fortunately, many preventative measures,
and therapeutic measures exist thanks to the science of podiatric
medicine, that permit us to enjoy a long life of mobility. |
