Year 2017 / Volume 28 / Number 1

Abstract PDF PDF

Update

Longitudinal arch load-sharing system of the foot

Rev Esp Podol. 2017;28(1):37-45

Kevin A. Kirby


The longitudinal arch of the human foot is a complex mechanical structure that must be compliant on uneven surfaces and also have sufficient stiffness to allow the foot to be an efficient propulsive organ during walking and running gait. To serve these functions, the longitudinal arch has a unique four-layer load-sharing system consisting of the plantar fascia, plantar intrinsic muscles, plantar arch extrinsic muscles and plantar ligaments. These four layers of tension load-bearing elements, working together with the osseous elements which serve as the framework of the longitudinal arch, work synergistically to increase longitudinal arch stiffness during weightbearing activities. The passive tension load-bearing elements of this loadsharing system, the plantar fascia and plantar ligaments, are not under direct central nervous system control and thus serve to stiffen the longitudinal arch with an automatic stiffening mechanism that is based on Achilles tendon tension and plantar forefoot loading. The active tension load-bearing elements, the plantar intrinsic and plantar extrinsic muscles, are under direct central nervous system control and serve to increase or decrease the stiffness of the medial and lateral longitudinal arches depending on the type and intensity of the prevailing weightbearing activity of the individual. Together, the elements of the longitudinal arch loadsharing system ensure that proper weightbearing function of the longitudinal arch, and the foot and lower extremity, can still occur even when a failure of one of these tension load-bearing elements occurs due to injury.


Nuevo comentario

Security code:
CAPTCHA code image
Speak the codeChange the code
 

Comentarios

No comments in this article

Artículos relacionados

Instrucciones para citar

Kevin A. Kirby. Longitudinal arch load-sharing system of the foot. Rev Esp Podol 2017;28(1):37-45


Descargar a un gestores de citas

Descargue la cita de este artículo haciendo clic en uno de los siguientes gestores de citas:

Métrica

Este artículo ha sido visitado 29786 veces.
Este artículo ha sido descargado 5 veces.

Estadísticas de Dimensions


Estadísticas de Plum Analytics

Compartir

Este artículo aun no tiene valoraciones .
Reader rating:
Rate this article:
Send by e-mail
2024 Revista Española de Podología
ISSN: 0210-1238   e-ISSN: 2695-463X

       Indexada en:
Política de Privacidad