The Foot
The anatomy of the foot
The foot arch
Bracing of the longitudinal arch:
- plantar aponeurosis
- ligamentum plantare longum
- musculus flexor hallucis longus
- foot's short muscle group
Bracing of the transverse arch:
- musculus tibialis posterior
- musculus peronaeus profundus
- Foot muscles
Together they 'wrap around' the middle foot like a stirrup from the inside and outside and hold the arch up. |
Function of the Arch of the Foot
The foot is the first point of contact between you and the earth. With a healthy foot in normal position, the transverse and longitudinal foot arches perform an important cushioning function. The entire body weight must be supported by the foot when walking, and at the same time the peak loads on joints such as the knee, hip and spine must be reduced. To do this, the arches of the feet sink when they make contact with the ground with each step due to the load experienced and rebuild through muscle tension.
Biomechanics and cycling
As the arches of the foot descend, the foot fatigues and direct power transmission to the pedals is reduced. Excessive movement of the foot in the cycling shoe can lead to nerve and vascular constriction, resulting in paresthesias or numbness.