Our feet are one of the most spectacular feats of engineering – although composed of only 26 bones, some muscles, tendons and ligaments, the structure of each foot works to accept forces up to two or three times the weight of your body, and act as shock absorbers and adaptors to uneven surfaces. All of the structure and mechanics of the foot is then covered with skin – a living tissue that can withstand all the forces and then sense the tiniest of touch of a tickle.
The bony structure of the foot is designed to allow for force to load down the body on a small pillar (your leg bone – tibia) into the small stacked bones of the foot, the talus and calcaneus. Weight and forces are then transmitted to the smaller bones of the ball of the foot. The bones act like the frame of a house – the big solid beams that hold things up. But the bones are not static like the beams in the house. They move small amounts like a spring compressing to allow for shock absorption when your foot hits the ground and then move further to work like a lever to propel you forward when your foot pushes off to take the next step. The pattern is repeated often thousands of times a day.
We all need to look after our feet – wearing proper shoes, caring for the skin and nails, gentle massage and stretching and just everyday pampering will help us keep our feet healthy and strong. However, when something goes wrong with the foot – take care and look after it right away; see your doctor or foot care specialist – we can help you keep the Freedom to Move!
