Podcast 112: Strengthening the foot's arch

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Show links:
http://traffic.libsyn.com/thegaitguys/pod_112f.mp3
http://traffic.libsyn.com/thegaitguys/pod_112f.mp3
* and on iTunes, Soundcloud, and just about every other podcast harbor site, just google "the gait guys podcast", you will find us.
 

Show notes:

Job security, become so good and so unique that Ai cant replace your skills as a doctor
http://www.techinsider.io/age-of-ems-machines-will-take-over-all-jobs-2016-8

How prosthetics are working now, and will in the future
and why you should be scared
http://thenextweb.com/insider/2016/08/04/researches-think-we-may-have-to-protect-our-brains-from-hackers-in-a-few-years/

Open talk about how coordination is the first strength changes someone notes. It comes before true strength is achieved. It is neurologic, and its can feel decievingly safe, but it is a lie.

Foot Strengthening ?
https://drjohnrusin.com/advanced-strength-training-for-feet/

http://www.jospt.org/doi/abs/10.2519/jospt.2016.6482?platform=hootsuite&

Impaired Foot Plantar Flexor Muscle Performance in Individuals With Plantar Heel Pain and Association With Foot Orthosis Use

Tags:
foot arch, foot intrinsics, short foot, yoga toes, gastrocnemius, soleus, heel pain, hammer toes, correct toes, foot exercises, thegaitguys, squatting, gait, gait analysis, gait assessment,  orthotics, prosthetics
 

Toe flexor strength and ankle dorsiflexion ROM during the countermovement jump

This study looked to evaluate the relationships between peak toe flexor muscle strength, ankle dorsiflexion range of motion, and countermovement jump height.

"The results showed (1) a moderate correlation between ankle dorsiflexion range of motion and countermovement jump height and (2) a high correlation between peak first toe flexor muscle strength and countermovement jump height. Peak first toe flexor muscle strength and ankle dorsiflexion range of motion are the main contributors to countermovement jump performance."

There could be variables missing here, and plenty of caveats. We should try to get the full text on this one to be fair. None the less, interesting facts to brain juggle however.
These muscles are posterior compartment muscles so it makes sense, however, when the first great toe (the hallux) is in relative flexion, the arch is easier to drop (conversely, hallux dorslflexion causes the arch to raise and keeps the ankle dorsiflexion more purely in the ankle mortise) where as, with relative toe flexion, the arch can drop, this can generate some pronation and arch splay, which can increase the "appearance" of more ankle dorsiflexion when in fact some could be from the arch drop/pronation. I wonder if the researchers are aware of this variable or if this study took it into consideration. Certainly when someone is dropping into ankle dorsiflexion ready to jump, is is easy to drop the arch. Go ahead, dry doing it with the toes down , and then with the toes up in extension, its very different in the amount of dorsiflexion you can get out of the entire arch-ankle mortise complex combined. IT is these kinds of things that can easily be over looked and skew findings.

Correlation between toe flexor strength and ankle dorsiflexion ROM during the countermovement jump

Sung Joon Yun1) 2), Moon-Hwan Kim2), Jong-Hyuck Weon3), Young Kim4), Sung-Hoon Jung5), Oh-Yun Kwon5)

Journal of Physical Therapy Science
Vol. 28 (2016) No. 8 August p. 2241-2244

link : https://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/jpts/28/8/28_jpts-2016-202/_article?platform=hootsuite

https://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/jpts/28/8/28_jpts-2016-202/_article?platform=hootsuite

Development of the arch: Functional implications | Lower Extremity Review Magazine→

A nice, referenced piece from one of our fav’s, Dr Michaud.

“Although early research suggested a limited connection between arch height and lower extremity function, more recent research confirms that arch height does indeed affect function. Information obtained from measurements that accurately identify the height of the medial longitudinal arch may lead to more effective treatment protocols. By identifying specific injuries associated with low and high arches, it may also be possible to prevent these injuries.”

Attempting to regain a level playing ground for your foot.

“Remember, we were born with both our rearfoot and forefoot designed to engage on the same plane (the flat ground). We were not born with the heel raised higher than the forefoot. And, the foot’s many anatomically congruent joint surfaces, their associated ligaments, the lines of tendon pull and all the large and small joint movements and orchestrations with each other are all predicated on this principle of a rearfoot and forefoot on the same plane. This is how our feet were designed from the start.  This is why I like shoes closer to zero drop, when possible, because I know that we are getting closer to enabling the anatomy as it was designed. This is not always possible, feasible, logical or reasonable depending on the problematic clinical presentation and there is plenty of research to challenge this thinking, yet plenty to support is as well. The question is, can you get back to this point after years of footwear compensating ? Or have your feet just changed too much, new acquired bony and joint changes that have too many miles on the new changes ? Perhaps you have spent your first 20-50 years in shoes with heeled shoes of varying heel-ball offset. Maybe you can get back to flat ground, maybe you cannot, but if you can, how long will it take? Months ? Years ?  It all makes sense to me, but does it make sense for your feet and your body biomechanics after all these years ? Time will tell.” -Dr. Allen

Fundamental foot skills everyone should have, subconsciously. This video shows a skill you must own for good foot mechanics. It needs to be present in standing, walking, squatting, jumping and the like. It is the normal baseline infrastructure that you must have every step, every moment of every day. 

Is your foot arch weak ? Still stuffing orthotics and stability shoes up under that falling infrastructure ? Try rebuilding a simple skill first, one that uses the intrinsic anatomy to  help pull the arch up.  If your foot is still flexible, you can likely re-earn much of the lost skills, such as this one. This is a fundamental first piece of our foot, lower limb and gait restoration program. We start here to be sure this skill is present, then add endurance work on it and then eventually strength and gait progressions. This is where it starts for us gang. 

Shawn and Ivo, the gait guys

Podcast 37: Anandamide & Body Work, 3D Printed Shoes and Case Studies

Our show notes should interest you today. We have another great podcast ready for you today !

Link to our server:

http://thegaitguys.libsyn.com/podcast-37-anandamide-body-work-3d-printed-shoes-and-case-studies

iTunes link:

https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/the-gait-guys-podcast/id559864138

Gait Guys online /download store:

http://store.payloadz.com/results/results.aspx?m=80204

other web based Gait Guys lectures:

www.onlinece.com   type in Dr. Waerlop or Dr. Allen,  "Biomechanics"

Today’s show notes:

Neuroscience piece:

McPartland et al (2005) measured Anandamide (AEA) levels pre- and post, Myofascial Release, Muscle Energy Technique, High velocity manipulation all of which load fascia patients experienced analgesic/euphoric cannabimimetic effects, which correlated with an increase in serum AEA levels (more than double pre-treatment evels). 

Neither cannabimimetic effects, nor changes in AEA levels, occurred in control subjects.

McPartland, J et al 2005.. Jnl. American Osteopathic Association 105, 283–291 
http://leonchaitow.com/2008/01/30/bodywork-high

2. Vibrating shoes could be the future of navigation and wearable tech

http://www.wired.co.uk/magazine/archive/2013/09/start/vibrating-shoes-the-new-navigation-tool

3. Tim Ferriss (@tferriss)

9/2/13 9:25 PM
Malcolm Gladwell: “Man and Superman” The New Yorker buff.ly/174jruO Drugs, genetics, and the fallacy of a level playing field.

 

4.FB reader sent us a message:

Hi Guys: Not quite sure how I came across your podcasts but really enjoying them, even if I’m only slowly starting to understanding them. I was catching up on some old ones during my marathon training and the ones on evolution reminded me of some of my musing on the arch in the foot (well I guess correctly that should be the medial longitudinal arch). I though you might be able to give me the answers or point me in the right direction

Are we only species with this?

What is the advantage?

When and how does it develop and why isn’t it formed in utero?

Are flat feet then a genetic or developmental issue and why?

Thanks 

Alex

5. off the web:

The imprecise art of foot orthoses

http://www.americaspodiatrist.com/2011/02/the-imprecise-art-of-foot-orthotics/

6. off the web:

3D-Printed Shoes Mean You’ll Never Need to Buy Another Pair
http://mashable.com/2013/08/20/3d-printed-shoes/

7. Another TUMBLR reader asks question about:

Hi Gait Guys,

I am currently a third year podiatry student needing some biomechanics and orthotic-making training. I enjoy your youtube videos but was wondering if you offer or could recommend a dvd that I could purchase to further my education. The way the information is presented it in class is not as good as the way you do it! I am also interested in the biomechanics of shoes… I am having trouble finding information about how walking in a cushioned/plantarflexed sneaker effects function (Does is help us get to forefoot running or hinder us?). I enjoyed your blog on different curved lasts as well. How would I be able to apply the way the shoe is lasted to a patient? For example, if the patient is rigid and I want them to be wearing a shoe that is lasted like a slipper how do I guide them into buying a shoe constructed as such? Do I just tell them to go for a shoe made with a straight toe box? Is there such a thing as a toe box curved laterally? 

One last question- do you recommend a medial FF post for a patient that has a mobile RF varus that causes a FF supinatus? I was told a post like this would limit PF of the first ray and DF of the hallux which would limit toe off and cause other problems. 
Thank you. I appreciate any advice you may have. I am out of my element with biomechanics and really want to improve at it.

8.Another off tumblr: 

sign-life-away asked you:

Is forefoot walking bad for you? Everyone says I walk awkwardly, as if i have something up my bum. I have been trying to walk “naturally” (heel-toe) but I go back to forefoot strike. Does this contribute to why my legs have always been muscular?