It really is no surprise that flat feet can cause numerous problems not only in the feet but also throughout the entire axial skeleton up to the base of the skull. What is not as well known is that too much arch in the foot can be just as detrimental as fallen arches as far as spinal and body structural health is concerned.
A high arch can cause femoral (upper leg bone) stress
fractures in athletically active people because a high arch allows the shock
from the heel striking the ground to be transmitted directly up the axial
skeleton instead of being absorbed as a normal arch would soak up the shock
generated by heel strike.
Having too much of an arch in your feet is just as bad as
having flat feet so the “happy medium” is where you want to be to avid foot
dysfunction and the musculoskeletal disorders and injuries foot dysfunction
causes. One study clearly showed that less injury occurred in athletes whose
feet were normal (i.e.; the “happy medium”) than occurred in athletes with
either high arches or flat feet. The normal foot absorbs shock from heel strike
more efficiently so less injury to the entire musculoskeletal system occurs.
The shock-wave force generated when your heel strikes the
ground is so common that you do not notice it even if it is causing degenerative
changes in your weight-bearing joints. One study showed that leather shoes
transmit more shock from heel strike than shoes that have shock absorbing
material imbedded in the heel and sole portion of the shoe.
Problems arise when there is too much or too little motion
in the foot and ankle joint. A foot that has a higher than normal arch is much
too rigid which leads to it being too inflexible to absorb shock from your heel
striking the ground when you walk. The rigidity of a foot that has too high of
an arch can result in stress fractures of the heel bone (calcaneus), leg bones
(femur), and even the bones of the pelvis.
The effects of a rigid foot caused by too high of an arch are
amplified if the other foot has little or no arch. This is because of the
increased asymmetry between the two feet which precipitates deleterious rotation
of the lower extremity (the leg). Increased rotation of the lower extremity
occurs more in cases of foot asymmetry than if the arches in both feet were
equal.
How much of a difference does having a rigid foot caused by
too high of an arch make in the transference of the shock wave from heel strike
up the axial skeleton? Researchers found that in people with symmetrical feet a
.5 g impact can be measured at the skull while walking. This is equal to being
hit in the head by 80 pounds with each step. A rigid foot caused by too high of
an arch will transmit even more of the shock wave up the skeleton.
Researchers estimate that running multiplies the impact of a
heel strike induced shock wave by three times thereby causing a greater
incidence of symptoms and pathologies in athletes with high arches in their
feet. Additionally, researchers were able to identify that athletes with high
arches in their feet have different injury patterns than athletes with low
arches due to the differences in stresses introduced into their body by the
different ways their feet hit the ground while running.
To help alleviate injuries and reduce wear and tear on your
body see your Doctor of Chiropractic to be fit for corrective orthotics
regardless of whether you are an athlete
or not because preserving the health of your body is an important aspect to
maintaining your happiness and well being.
If you have more questions about our services, contact us at 410-256-9650 or sign-up at www.phcpt.com for a free consultation!
Perry Hall Chiropractic and Physical Therapy
8817 Belair Road
Perry Hall, MD 21236
410-256-9650
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