Does Anyone Walk Normally?

Does Anyone Walk Normally?
In this age of insoles and orthotics for every activity and
every shoe on the market; my patients often ask, "Does
anyone walk normally?" And what is "normal gait" anyway?

In normal gait, your heel swings from side to side as your
foot moves. When the heel swings correctly, your foot can
flatten and regain its arch as you walk. (normal pronation
with resupination) But if your heel swings too much, your
foot may flatten more than it should. (overpronation) Over
time, such excess movement causes many foot problems. And
yes, some people do walk normally, but not many.

When the heel hits the ground, its outer edge touches
first. Soft tissues (muscles, tendons and ligaments) relax.
Your foot is able to flatten, adapt to uneven surfaces, and
absorb the shock of touchdown.

During midstance, your heel is below the ankle bone, and
the front and back of your foot are aligned. Your foot
easily bears your weight.

As the heel lifts, it swings slightly to the inside.
Muscles, tendons, and ligaments tighten. Your foot regains
its arch, allowing your toes to push your weight off the
ground.

Too Much Movement Causes Strain!

When your foot flattens too much (overpronation), some
bones are forced to support too much weight. The muscles
pull harder on these areas, making it more difficult for
tendons and ligaments to hold bones and joints in place.
Over time, you may develop swelling or pain on the bottom
of your foot or near the heel. Or a bony bump (bunion) may
form at your toe joint.

When your foot flattens too much, the ankle and heel do not
align during midstance. The foot strains under your body's
weight.

Abnormal biomechanics causes overpronation. This is easily
controlled with a custom orthotic. That is why most
biomechanical foot pain and deformities are treated
conservatively with custom orthotics. Change the
biomechanics, decrease the stress and take care of the pain
from the strain. Surgery is often avoided by simply
changing the biomechanics of a person's gait.

Custom orthotics can make you walk normally too! These
should be made from an impression of your foot in "neutral"
or in simpler terms, the place where your ankle and foot
are in proper alignment for weight bearing. The "gold
standard" is a neutral suspension cast done by a podiatrist
or a seasoned certified pedorthist. NOT a shoe store clerk
trying to sell you an arch support for an outrageous amonut
of money! For those with minor issues, many
over-the-counter arch supports can do the trick....but
remember...they are made for "normal people" and I have yet
to meet very many!

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Dr Marybeth Crane is a board certified podiatric foot and
ankle surgeon specializing in sports medicine. Your feet
should last a lifetime! For more foot health tips, a copy
of her FREE BOOK and doctor-approved foot care products,
visit http://www.faant.com or read her blog at
http://www.myrundoc.com