The Anatomy of the Foot
I recently read that the knee is quite complex, because it has so many tendons and ligaments, and allows us to move in so many different ways. Many human joints are intricate, but the foot is by far the most complex. If you don't believe me, consider this: the foot contains 26 bones, 106 ligaments, 19 or 20 muscles, and 38 to 40 tendons. Wow.This video by Dr. Nabil A. Ebraheim illustrates well the complexity of the foot:
No wonder it's hard to design shoes to support our feet!
So I'm not supposed to wear shoes? That's not what my doctor told me!
As it turns out, wearing shoes may have helped to cause my foot and knee problems. And many doctors, physical therapists, and podiatrists may not know about options other than orthotics and surgery.The shoe paradox, according to Adam Sternbergh's article "You Walk Wrong" in New York Magazine, is that "wearing shoes simply creates the need for wearing shoes." Or, as my sister once told me, our feet started to atrophy the moment we started wearing shoes.
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| Schierlitz, Tom. You Walk Wrong. By Adam Sternbergh. New York Magazine April 21, 2008. Makeup John Maurad and Jenai Chin. |
In a study conducted at Rush University Medical Center, walking barefoot or with minimalist shoes could be healthier for more than just our feet. Dr. Najia Shakoor, the principal author of the study, says, "Our study demonstrated that flat, flexible footwear significantly reduces the load on the knee joints compared with supportive, stable shoes with less flexible soles." So there's scientific evidence to support the knee/foot/shoe connection.
1 type of sandals not extremely fashionable but in the market is gladiator. They come in different shape and sizes and usually flat with lots of straps. There are other sandals that are strap-py but flat. Are these good for your feet?
ReplyDeleteThank you, I'll check them out later this spring, when sandal weather comes back.
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