What is the foot core system and why is it important?
You may not realise how important the human foot is in general function. It is a highly intricate structure, which plays an important role in your day-to-day activities such as providing a solid support base and during walking, is a mobile adaptor, it stores and releases elastic energy with each step and reduces loads acting on the feet and weakness to these important structures and surrounding areas can lead to injury when exercising. If you would like to know more, continue reading.
What is a foot core system?
In the athletic population core strength has considerable attention. Core strength consists of local stabiliser such as multifidus
and transverse abdominis,
and global movers such as latissimus dorsi.
The local stabilisers have very little cross-sectional area and have tiny moment arms meaning they produce small movements. Whereas, primary movers have larger cross-sectional areas and produce greater movements i.e. trunk flexion. This concept can be applied to the leg and foot whereby the arch of the foot is controlled by local stabilisers ie where they originate within the foot and stabilise the arch and global movers ie tibialis posterior where they originate in the lower leg and cross the ankle and insert onto the foot. We can talk more about how they integrate and work further but for the purpose of this blog we will keep it basic.
Exercises for strengthening the foot core system
The foot is often ignored when it comes to developing strength, mobility, coordination and so much more. There is growing evidence that supports doing exercises within the foot. When they do not function properly, the foot becomes unstable and misaligned and uncharacteristic foot movement occurs. This can develop into foot-related conditions such as plantar fasciitis which is a repetitive strain injury and deformation of the arch, other conditions posterior tibial tendon dysfunction, shin splints, chronic lower leg pain just to name a few.
Please don’t hesitate to contact The Footcare Clinic to learn more about the foot core system and one of the podiatrists will conduct a thorough biomedical analysis whereby they implement some local foot exercises and assess the situation and establish a treatment plan for you. Booking online is super easy or you can call our clinic on (03) 9711 7562 and our team will help you make an appointment.
