Nearly 75% of Australians will experience foot problems at one or more times in their lives. The human foot is designed to handle the pressure of body weight and gravity as we walk, run, jump, skip, and dance. Foot function (or biomechanics) is instrumental in helping us process the act of movement (kinetics) and the relative bodily positions we find ourselves in at any point along the way (kinematics).
For the most part, we are talking about movement here—a stop/start, pendulum-swinging, leg-flailing process that would be an absolute kinetic/kinematic disaster if it were not for our body's ability to maintain a sense (equilibrium) of balance (stability/equilibrium) in motion. Foot function is designed, in part, to help us do this.
The Basics of Walking Gait
Walking gait is the way in which a person walks. It has a certain rhythm, style, and speed. It is a key component of many movements that a person will do (not just walking!). A good walking gait will lead to an overall improvement in mobility, decrease the risk of certain musculoskeletal injuries, and a likely decrease in overall fatigue, which will lead to better balance and coordination. The keys to having a good walking gait are having an appropriate stride length, being able to maintain a certain level of balance, and having the stability to complete the movement. Stride length is a key component in designing a prosthetic. Your stride length directly helps determine your walking speed, and most people will know from experience, an awkward or slow stride length (due to mismatched prosthetics) will donate to a decrease in walking speed and an awkward gait
How Foot Health Influences Walking Gait
The health of your feet is closely tied to your gait, as your walking pattern can directly impact how well your feet are aligned and functioning. Foot conditions like flat feet or high arches can throw off your body’s weight distribution and the mechanics of your gait pattern—you’re likely to experience overpronation (excessive inward rolling of the foot) with flat feet, and underpronation (a lack of movement that inhibits the foot's ability to absorb shock) with high arches. Both can bring discomfort and heighten the risk of injury to the feet. They can also cause up-chain injury to other parts of the body, like the knees, hips, and low back.
Choose the right footwear: When it comes to treating foot health and ensuring a proper walking gait, one of the most effective methods is to invest in footwear that provides ample arch support and cushions your feet from shock and impact. By tailoring your footwear to your feet, you can help reduce harmful, uncomfortable alignment issues. This solution significantly benefits people who suffer from flat feet, or those with high arches, who also require specific comfort measures.
Enhancing Balance and Stability Through Foot Care
Balance and stability for walking—preventing falls and maintaining an upright posture—come from a solid foundation: feet. Feet play a role in stability—and enhancing foot function can help. This includes exercises. For example, tasks like toe raises, heel walks, balance drills, and other things will strengthen the muscles in the feet and ankles, improving foot coordination and proprioception.
Other stretches for the calves and eponymously named Achilles (both named after the Homeric figure) tendon can help enhance flexibility and support balance performance. To be sure, regular check-ups on foot health also don’t hurt, as these can often reveal potentially destabilizing structures—previously unnoticed bunions or the most common plantar fasciitis. The likelihood, with these suggestions included, of taking a fall declines significantly. Falls and injuries reduced equates to movement and self-esteem increased!
Knowing about the connection between your feet and your walking gait is important for more than just your overall wellness. It is a conversation about how the structures and functions of your feet can directly dictate the way you walk. This affects everything from your balance and your posture to the relative health of the joints in your legs, hips, and lower back. Everyone should be just a little more interested in their feet because of this alone.