The functional importance of human foot muscles for bipedal locomotion
Abstract
Human feet have evolved uniquely among primates, losing an opposable first digit in favor of a pronounced arch to enhance our ability to walk and run with an upright posture. Recent work suggests that muscles within our feet are key to how the foot functions during bipedal walking and running. Here we show direct evidence for the significance of these foot muscles in supporting the mechanical performance of the human foot. Contrary to expectations, the intrinsic foot muscles contribute minimally to supporting the arch of the foot during walking and running. However, these muscles do influence our ability to produce forward propulsion from one stride into the next, highlighting their role in bipedal locomotion.
- Publication:
-
Proceedings of the National Academy of Science
- Pub Date:
- January 2019
- DOI:
- 10.1073/pnas.1812820116
- Bibcode:
- 2019PNAS..116.1645F