Have you ever been amazed at the incredible resistance of the feet, which alone carry the whole structure of your body? Composed of 26 bones, 16 joints, 107 ligaments and 20 muscles, the foot is a complex and exciting part of the body. Together, the feet contain a quarter of the entire human skeleton. American and Japanese researchers are interested in the longitudinal arch of the foot. Their work has been published in the journal Nature.
The morphology of the foot ensures our bipedalism
“We think that the arched morphology of the human foot stiffens it, while other primates have flat feet which bend strongly in the middle. However, the relationship between the geometry of the arch and rigidity remains debated in foot biomechanics, podiatry and paleontology ”, write the researchers as a preamble. In order to learn more about the role and resistance of the tendons, they dissected the feet of deceased people who donated their bodies to medical research.
According to them, the longitudinal arch is responsible for more than 40% of the stiffness of the foot. “The ligaments that cover the arch act as a bowstring to resistcollapse of the arch when a force is applied, and the mechanical properties of these ligaments look like springs, making a substantial contribution to storing and returning theenergy to the push ”, explain the researchers. To put it simply, the tendon makes the foot rigid. By cutting it, the human foot would be 50% less rigid.
It is therefore to this type of morphology that we owe our bipedalism, that is to say our way of moving by walking or running. With this study, researchers hope to open new therapeutic avenues to treat foot diseases and deepen their knowledge to improve the design of prostheses.
Foot diseases
There are many orthopedic diseases that can affect the bones, joints, muscles, tendons or even the ligaments of the foot. Some are treated by wearing more suitable shoes, soles or other devices aimed at modifying the position or range of motion of the foot in order to relieve the pressure exerted on the joints or painful areas. These devices are called “orthotics”.
Anesthetic injections and corticosteroid injections can in some cases be done to reduce pain, just as surgery can improve alignment and joint function. Other foot problems are caused by illnesses such as diabetes, gout and other types of arthritis.
Do not hesitate to consult a doctor, as poor foot health can cause ankle, knee, hip or back problems.
>> Find our program “Questions to experts” on The diabetic’s foot, prevention and care
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