You already work out your arms, shoulders, legs, hip and back routinely but there is a part we often ignore completely and it is probably one of the most important. The human foot combines mechanical complexity and structural strength. The ankle serves as foundation, shock absorber and propulsion engine. Your feet sustain several tons of pressure per day and provide flexibility and resiliency. Think of it, during a typical day the feet endure a cumulative force of several hundred tons.
The foot and ankle contain 26 bones, 33 joints, more than 100 muscles, tendons and ligaments. These components work together to provide the body with stability, balance, and mobility. They provide the balance and support for nearly all movements including your ability to walk, run, and jump. A structural flaw or malfunction in any one part can result in the development of problems elsewhere in the body. This is especially true for those who have flat feet. Foot training and an orthotic correction are important in supporting the foot. Fallen arches cause feet to collapse inward knocking the joints and muscles out of alignment. The foot becomes a loose bag of bone which sets up trouble up for the knees, hips, and back and shuts down the larger hip muscles from working.
The individual with high arches face the opposite problem too rigid a foot and ankle. The high arches push the foot outward beyond the best alignment of the joints and muscles. This adds more force pressure to the body than a flat footed person would encounter. Foot training and orthotic is also important to improve mobility; it’s important to put your best foot forward.
Our clinic offers full biomechanical assessments and we can recommend and prescribe custom made orthotics as well as teach you activations mobilization and strengthening exercises to set a solid foot ankle foundation.
Visit Our Facebook Page Movement Monday Ep:3 for moves to get your best foot forward.
