FUNCTION OF THE FEET
General Shoe Specification
Your feet have 3 main arches that allow them to absorb and redistribute force, allowing us to walk, run, sprint, and basically anything else we do to move. These arches are the Medial Longitudinal, Lateral Longitudinal, and Transverse Arches. These three arches work together to allow the foot to work like a spring. When we step down, it absorbs force and these arches flatten out slightly, while when we are taking weight off of our feet, the arches then rise back up, allowing us to use that stored force to propel ourselves forward with much less effort from our muscles.
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Normal Foot Function
Walking is the easiest way to describe how feet should normally work. Above it was mentioned that the foot should act like a spring, absorbing force while stepping down and pushing that force back into the ground while lifting the foot. To do this we must first describe some parts of normal gait. There are 4 big parts of gait and we’re going to be looking at the 3 of the stance phase, the portion while a foot is contacting the ground.
First is the heel strike, this is when the heel first makes contact with the ground. During this phase, there is no absorption of force through the arches, but rather a transfer of force up the kinetic chain to the knee, hip, and pelvis. This is where it is important to mention that while walking, the foot on the ground acts as a pivot point for the body to move around. So this initial contact is when the back foot is beginning to lift and push the body forward to continue walking.
Next is the mid-stance phase, while the body’s weight is being transferred to be right over top of the foot, the medial and lateral longitudinal arches are flattening, absorbing some of the weight of the body in order to be able to help push off in the next phase. This is also where the transverse arch will flatten out and the toes should splay apart from each other.
Next the weight of the body is in front of the foot and the heel lifts from the ground, starting the toe-off phase. This is where the muscles in the foot and calf will plantarflex the ankle (point the toes down) and flex the foot in order to push the body forward. This is also where the arches of the foot will spring back into their regular position, distributing the force they were stored during the mid-stance phase.
Lastly is the swing phase, which consists of all the time and portion of gait that the foot is not touching the ground. This is a fairly non-functional time for the foot itself. However, the ankle does prepare for the next heel strike phase while this is happening.
ARCHE TYPES
NORMAL ARCHES
If the middle portion or arch of your footprint is just about halfway filled in with a noticeable curve along the arch, congratulations! Your arches are at the proper height to absorb and distribute the impact from walking and other physical activity.
HIGH ARCHES
Shoes with cushioning are extra important if you have high arches. The shoes you’re looking for are typically heavier on cushioning and less rigid. Slip in high arch supports to help redistribute weight more evenly along the bottom of the foot.
LOW ARCHES (FLAT FOOT)
If the arch of your footprint is filled in, it’s likely that your foot collapses inward when you run. This acts as a shock absorber, but the additional rolling in of your foot may stress your feet and knees, adding to your injury risk. Usually, we would recommend shoes with more stability, such as internal wedges that build up the arch side, dual-density midsoles and supportive “posts,” or wider, more substantial midsoles. Keep your arches in great shape with shoes that have firm, thick soles, proper cushioning, and keep your heel stabilized.
VaaKenya is a market platform for made-in-Kenya footwear and leather products. The company is an aggregator and go-to-market partner for micro manufacturers. VaaKenya aggregates manufacturers and provides RND, finance, and linkage to market opportunities. We take responsibility of quality of each product we sell.
By aggregating manufacturers and consumer demand, VaaKenya is increasing capacity and building more robust and efficient supply chains that support business growth for suppliers, consistent quality for consumers, and most importantly, meeting our mission of dignifying African feet.
Founded in 2017, VaaKenya is based in Nairobi Kenya.
Contact Info
- Address: Doonholm, Greenfield shopping center, first floor, Nairobi
- Phone: +254 739 042644
- Email: info@vaakenya.com
