Foot Conditions - Normal Foot

The foot is one of the most complex parts of the body. It’s made up of 26 bones connected by many joints, muscles, tendons, and ligaments. The foot is susceptible to many stresses. As such, foot problems can cause pain, inflammation, or injury.  The “normal” foot likely doesn’t exist, but we can strive for what is projected to be the most efficient and graceful alignment of the foot structure.

Through regular orchestrated movement, range of motion and alignment of the pelvis, leg and foot can help to increase fluidity of gait and give a youthful spring to the normal process of ambulation, hence the phrase “spring in your step.” Walking becomes an expression of movement that signifies an adaptive, highly mobile, yet controlled posture of the feet, legs, and superstructure, including head position – in a dance like fluidity with the rest of the weightbearing skeleton. 

The foot has various arches, windlass mechanisms, oppositional forces, gliding joints, diarthrodial joints, Lisfranc joints, fascial and tendinous bone attachments, and ligamentous/collagen fibers that help control excess joint excursion. This grand concert of anatomical functional players have well-orchestrated times in which they are to fire, move, or constrain movement. Chronic misalignment, like limping or throwing one foot out when walking eventually causes degenerative joint disease (arthritis), deformity, and various types of pain, inflammation, and swelling scenarios playing out during sports, fitness activities, or long term standing/walking. Think nurses, flight attendants, or highway construction workers.

At Stand Strong, we recognize the connection between feet and the higher up connections in the leg, low back and other body regions. Like a skyscraper, healthy feet are the foundation of a healthy body.