It has been shown that humans adjust leg stiffness during running to accommodate to varying surface hardnesses and so maintain a consistent gait pattern . The foot ,of course , is an integrated part of this system but recent evidence (ref below Kelly et al 2014 ) suggests that the foot is not only part of a whole leg stiffness system but also has a closed tissue stress controlling system of its own .
In the paper mentioned , Kelly appears to shown that in seated subjects loading of the tissues of the foot (and in my view most likely loading of the plantar fascia ) produces an increasing amount of activity in the plantar intrinsics indicating a closed systems involving the plantar fascia and the intrinsic ,arch supporting muscles .
Thus , foot stiffness and leg stiffness can be controlled separately with the plantar fascia acting as a strain gauge in the case of the foot . Perhaps orthotics should be looked at from the perspective not only of how they affect the whole but also how they affect the systems within the foot .
Intrinsic foot muscles have the capacity to control deformation of the ...
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3928948/
by LA Kelly - 2014 - Cited by 65 - Related articles
8 Jan 2014 - The plantar intrinsic foot muscles possess origins and insertions that are ..... In this study, we have extended the findings of Kelly et al. [18] by ...
In the paper mentioned , Kelly appears to shown that in seated subjects loading of the tissues of the foot (and in my view most likely loading of the plantar fascia ) produces an increasing amount of activity in the plantar intrinsics indicating a closed systems involving the plantar fascia and the intrinsic ,arch supporting muscles .
Thus , foot stiffness and leg stiffness can be controlled separately with the plantar fascia acting as a strain gauge in the case of the foot . Perhaps orthotics should be looked at from the perspective not only of how they affect the whole but also how they affect the systems within the foot .
Intrinsic foot muscles have the capacity to control deformation of the ...
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3928948/
by LA Kelly - 2014 - Cited by 65 - Related articles
8 Jan 2014 - The plantar intrinsic foot muscles possess origins and insertions that are ..... In this study, we have extended the findings of Kelly et al. [18] by ...