What Is the Medial Foot Arch?
The foot is a unique structure made of 26 bones, 33 joints, and over 100 muscles, ligaments and tendons. It can primarily be divided into three regions — the heel, arch, and forefoot.
What’s interesting is that the arch structure of the foot actually consists of three arches:
- the lateral arch across the outside of the foot;
- the transverse arch across the top of the foot that runs from side to side; and
- the medial arch across the inside of the foot.
Role of the Medial Arch
The medial arch runs from the heel to the forefoot. The function of this foot arch is to support bodyweight during activities such as standing, walking and running. When the toes touch the ground, this arch stretches to its maximum length and rapidly as the toes are off the ground.
The medial arch also plays a major role in shock absorption upon foot contact with the ground to lessen the impact on the feet. It does so by transferring the ground reaction forces on the foot through the arch structure to lessen the impact on the foot as it hits the ground.
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Impact of Foot Posture
If a person has foot posture problems, the feet may not be able to absorb ground force properly. For example, with flat feet, the plantar fascia ligament, which is responsible for stabilising the medial arch, stretches excessively.
This causes the arch to flatten completely or almost completely onto the ground, which leads to improper distribution of weight in the feet. As a result, the feet are not able to absorb ground forces properly, which may cause pain along the bottom of the foot.
As there is more pressure on the feet, the risk of developing conditions like plantar fasciitis, bunions and hallux limitus/rigidus may increase. Ultimately, these problems can affect overall balance and stability.
Posture Support with MASS4D®
A visit to a foot specialist is recommended for a detailed examination of the foot posture and walking stride. The clinician may prescribe exercise for strengthening the foot muscles and ligaments. Foot insoles can be included as part of a comprehensive treatment programme.
MASS4D® insoles support the medial arch in its healthiest posture, helping restore foot range of motion and improve distribution of weight. The insoles offer the greatest support to hold the feet in their ideal posture at all times for improving overall balance and promoting posture alignment.
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Foot Pain Relief, Injury Prevention, Better Posture and Sports Performance in One Insole buy now
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