Disturbances of foot movements
Last reviewed: 23.04.2024
All iLive content is medically reviewed or fact checked to ensure as much factual accuracy as possible.
We have strict sourcing guidelines and only link to reputable media sites, academic research institutions and, whenever possible, medically peer reviewed studies. Note that the numbers in parentheses ([1], [2], etc.) are clickable links to these studies.
If you feel that any of our content is inaccurate, out-of-date, or otherwise questionable, please select it and press Ctrl + Enter.
When running or walking fast, overstrain of the foot may occur. The foot thus hurts, poorly serves, quickly gets tired. Recent research has shown that many diseases of the spine are associated with a poor state of the feet. Therefore, the health of the foot should be given a lot of attention.
Variations during movements
Our foot is experiencing great physical exertion, and this can provoke many diseases. For example, scientific research proves that with a bad foot health, a disease of the knee joint or other parts of the foot may occur. And not only legs, but also any part of the body.
Deviations during foot movements can disrupt the balance of a person and increase the risk of falls, fractures and injuries. Deformations of bones and joints caused by trauma are then very difficult to treat. We need complex methods of influence - and medicines, and orthopedic footwear, and physical education, and in some cases - surgery.
Dysfunction of the foot
The foot has several important functions, through which we can move faster or slower, get tired at the same time quickly or not at all tired. Violations of these functions entail serious consequences not only for the foot itself, but also for the shin, and for the calf, and for any part of the body. Here are some of the most important functions of the foot.
Moving on different surfaces
We need a stop in order to move safely on different surfaces. These surfaces are not always perfectly even and they are of different degrees of hardness.
For example, it is much easier to walk on smooth asphalt than in free-flowing sand. When the foot steps on any surface, it damages, and so we do not damage the foot and do not fall, keeping the balance.
If the foot is damaged or weak, it can not balance the whole body. When falling, any part of the body can be injured and injured. That is why it is so important that the feet are strong and able to provide us with a normal movement on any surfaces. It should not have corns, corns, so we need to take care of comfortable shoes.
Moving body in space
Thanks to the foot, the whole body moves in different directions. If the foot functions are violated, a person is unable to coordinate the movements of the entire body. If we compare different parts of the leg - thighs, knees, calves - then the foot of them is the most mobile. Depriving the foot of this mobility does not allow a person to use his motor abilities.
Reducing the burden on other organs
The foot takes on all the load, reducing it for other organs. This ability is especially valuable for fast and sharp movements, for example, when running and jumping. The foot springs, taking on the load, and it decreases for the knee joints, the dorsal muscles, the vertebrae of the neck and back.
If the foot did not take on all these loads, then the spine would wear out much faster.
Phases of foot movement
The cycle of steps, if completed, is divided into two main phases: the phase of flight and the phase of the support. The first phase - the leg is brought over the ground and does not touch the surface - this is the phase of flight. The second phase - the foot touched the surface, so it entered the support phase. Up to 65% during the entire walking time is in the support phase, 35% - during the flight phase. That is, 35% of the time the leg hangs in the air, and 65% of the time of the foot rests on the surface.
The foot support phase is very important, because it depends on how much the person achieves his goal while moving, and the health of the legs. If in the support phase the person does something wrong, the leg can turn up, be damaged, injured, and the whole body can suffer. Spine - in particular.
During the support phase, the foot must be correctly grounded so that it does not experience a stronger load than it can withstand. Otherwise, injuries may occur.
Smooth movement of the foot
Up to 100% of all body injuries occur due to pronation. This term refers to the movement of the foot, in which its outer edge rises, and the outsole is turned outward. This is the correct position when walking.
There is still such a thing as foot supination. Because of incorrect movements during supination, all other injuries occur. What is supination? This is the lifting of the inner, and not the outer edge of the foot, at which the sole is turned inside. In humans, the process of supination is very rarely obtained - only in the case of disruption of coordination of movements due to diseases of the nerves and muscles. In this case, a person needs a doctor's consultation and long-term treatment.
Problems with pronation occur when a person has diseased or deformed joints. Then these joints are not able to carry a heavy load, and can lead a person during the movement. As a chain reaction, there is a muscular overstrain and a strain of ligaments, and pain in the leg may occur.
With this pain, medications can often not cope. We have to resort to special corrective gymnastics, but only after the operation is done and the rehabilitation period has passed.
Incorrect position of the foot
A person, when walking correctly, follows an imaginary line. She has the exact location. This line of balance passes along the entire length of the foot from the heel and exactly to the space between the thumb and the next one next to it. If a person steps on this line correctly, the weight and load are distributed evenly over the entire surface of the foot.
If the person walks more with the other part of the foot while walking, the load is redistributed, and the leg can dislocate or even break. This affects the entire body, in particular, the spine, part of the load falls on it, causing overexertion and inflammation.
Why can not cut corns
On how healthy the sole and toes are, the accuracy of movements in walking, the coordination of these movements and their duration will depend. Corns and footprints complicate the process of walking, so it is important not to allow them.
If corns have already appeared, many make the mistake of pruning them with a blade. But this is a very bad way, because an infection can get into the wound, and then the muscle tissues will be infected. When a person walks, viruses of bacteria are added, they fall into the open wound, as the leg is in a constant moist environment.
If this process is not controlled, the wound from corneal cutting becomes obese, and surgical intervention may be necessary.
Most risky are those who have diabetes - they have poorly healing wounds and poor blood coagulation.
Therefore, in the formation of calluses, you need to see a doctor so that you are treated for calluses in a hospital.
How to protect yourself from corns
Corns, as a rule, arise because of improper wearing of shoes. To prevent this from happening, you need to pick up shoes with insteps and strong quality soles. Orthopedic insoles will also be good.
How do they work? The pressure on the foot is reduced by these means. From those places that carry an additional load, thanks to insteps, it decreases, redistributing to other sites. Therefore, in shoes with insteps and orthopedic insoles it is much easier to walk. To ensure that the arch supports are qualitative, they must consist of absorbing materials. When the foot rubs against the insole and the top of the shoe, the insole of a special material reduces this friction and makes the movement more comfortable.
Means of prevention
If you do not wear special orthopedic shoes, choose at least shoes with a spacious toe. So pressure on the fingers will be minimal, and corns will arise with less probability. Heel can be worn, but you need to coordinate its height.
If the height of your heel is more than 12 cm, it can be worn for a short time - no more than 2 to 3 hours in a row. Then you should rest by changing into more comfortable shoes with a low heel. For everyday wearing you need a low and stable heel - up to 4 cm high.
If you walk in sports shoes and, of course, wear socks, they should only be made of natural cloth. Optimum - flax or cotton. They absorb the moisture well and prevent sweat from stagnating and irritating the leg. In addition, in liquid media bacteria multiply very quickly, and foot infection is possible.
If there are problems with the movements of the foot and worried about pain in her or in the toes, you should contact a traumatologist, infectionist or rheumatologist.