What is the most stable structure? (Pssst….we learned this in high school…..)
A triangle. Or three-dimensionally, a tripod or a triangular pyramid. And that’s how I see the structure of the human foot. A good thing, since we need stability as we stand.
Try something. Right now, as you’re sitting reading this. As you place your (bare or un-shoed) foot on the ground, try to sense three spots:
1. the ball of your foot behind the big toe,
2. the ball of your foot behind the baby toe, and
3. the centre of the heel
That’s your tripod foot. Try this when you are sitting and again when you stand up and add your body’s weight to the equation. Is this the way you stand naturally? Good for you if it is! Most folks don’t.
Most of us stand on some of the foot. Which means we can tip over more easily. And which means we are asking some other body parts to work overtime to keep us balanced. Like our knees. Or abs, or spine, or….. whatever it takes to keep us upright. We tire and strain – in spots way far away from our feet.
Some folks tip forward and effectively walk tippy toe all the time. Others rock their weight back onto their heels, affecting posture further up the chain and creating muscle tension all over the place. Others put weight on one side or the other of the foot….and so on.
Foot awareness is subtle. Yet our feet have masses of neurotransmitters on their soles, busy sending info to the brain’s motor cortex. Roll, slide, tap, thunk and wiggle those feet. Wake them up! Notice a difference when you stand fully on feet that are “awake”? Your brain is sooooo happy! Energized and ready to help you walk better.
For some really pertinent info on foot health, check out The Foot Collective. It’s a Canadian business that offers all kinds of product advice and education about our feet.
And while you’re at it, check out my videos on the tripod foot – easy to find on my website: movebetternow.ca.
