Basic knowledge explained in simple terms: ‘The Foot’ – A Masterpiece of Nature

Our feet are a biological masterpiece of evolution – boasting architecture and biomechanics of the highest order. After all, thanks to them, people can stand upright on two legs for extended periods, maintaining their balance and, in this posture, walk, jog, sprint, balance, hop or dance. 

Instead, a skeletal structure delivers 26 bones, 33 joints, 20 muscles and well over 100 ligaments and tendons in the foot. This allows our feet to roll smoothly and cushion the body’s weight, which is mainly borne by the heel and ball of the foot. The transverse and longitudinal arches of the foot play a crucial role in this regard, providing us with the necessary stability.

The human foot is constructed on the principle of a dome – its structure can be divided into three sections:

1) The tarsus

In the rear part of the foot, at the so-called tarsus, the bones initially locate one on top of the other. Entirely at the bottom is the heel bone (calcaneus), the rearmost part of which forms the bony base of the heel. This is in contact with the base when standing. Above the heel bone – that is, towards the torso – lies the ankle bone (talus). Towards the tip of the foot, the cuboid bone (Os cuboideum), the navicular bone (Os naviculare) and the three cuneiform bones (Ossa cuneiformia) close together.

2) The midfoot (metatarsus)

The midfoot is made up of the five metatarsal bones (Ossa metatarsalia), which are arranged side by side. The first and strongest of these forms the large toe.

3) The forefoot (antefoot)

The five toes (digiti pedis) form the front section. These are long bones that make up two (big toe) or three phalanges (all other toes). 

Together with the network of tendons, ligaments and muscles, this forms the dome-shaped transverse arch in the midfoot region, which extends from the left to the right edge of the foot. On the inner side, the longitudinal arch runs from the toes to the heel – meaning that only the outer edge of the foot locates on the ground. The transverse and longitudinal arches deliver optimum distribution of the body’s weight across the foot in every situation and cushioning of shocks. 

Who would have thought? If people take an average of around 6,000 steps a day, with a stride length of 0.7 metres, this amounts to a total distance of 122,640 kilometres over an 80-year lifespan. By way of comparison: the circumference of the Earth at the equator is 40,075 kilometres. This means that, over the course of our lives, we walk the equivalent of at least three times around the planet under our own steam – provided that no foot problems prevent us from doing so. 

Common foot problems – if balance is disrupted

If muscles and ligaments are not exercised in an adequate manner, the shape of the arch of the foot can change. The most common problems include:

• Fallen or flat feet (Pes planus):
  The transverse arch of the foot is less pronounced (fallen arch) or has completely collapsed (flat foot). As a result, the entire sole of the foot sets onto the base with every step, which can cause pain throughout the musculoskeletal system.


• Valgus foot (Pes valgus):
  The heel visibly turns inwards.
  
  
• Bunion (Hallux valgus):
  Frequent wearing of high-heeled shoes shifts the load excessively onto the forefoot. In addition, high heels usually taper in the toe area: this causes the big toe to shift outwards.

Prevention is the best medicine – and this also applies to foot health. If you would like to stay mobile and keep your feet in good shape, you should maintain your feet, exercise your foot muscles and make sure the shoes you wear are suitable. Regular appointments with a podiatrist or foot care professional are just as important. They can answer any questions you may have, recommend products, and discover and treat foot problems at an early stage.&

So that patients can actively participate, clear and understandable communication is crucial. After all, not everyone is familiar with technical terms relating to the foot. And how can they actively participate in treating their problems if they don’t even understand exactly what they have?

Video tip: Technical terms relating to the foot explained simply

In her video, podiatrist Elisabeth Prinz demonstrates which technical terms are used during podiatry treatment and what they mean. For foot experts, this is a useful guide on how to communicate more clearly – and for patients, an important source of guidance. Have a look!

Elisabeth Prinz is a podiatrist, a specialist alternative practitioner in the field of podiatry, and the owner of her own practice in Neustadt an der Weinstraße. In her videos, she shares practical expertise on all aspects of foot health. You can find all the videos on the HELLMUT RUCK GmbH YouTube channel.