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Of: TT
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Photo: Kevin C. Cox / TT
The toe-up area can do the foot a disservice, according to a new study. Stock Photography.
The comfortably raised toe area found in most shoes can increase the risk of foot injuries, such as heel spurs. This is the opinion of American researchers, who have studied how flexion affects the muscles of the foot.
Almost all shoes have a round toe, which makes walking more comfortable and helps the foot slide in stride. But a new study, published in the journal Scientific Reports, shows that the beautiful curve can also increase the risk of injury. According to the German and American researchers behind the study, this is because the muscles of the foot are weakened because the shoe constantly provides some assistance in shooting as the foot is fixed in a slightly bent position.
In the study, subjects were allowed to walk on a treadmill barefoot or in experimental shoes that had different angles in the curve of the toe area. At the same time, muscle activation and step strength were measured with measuring instruments. The results showed that the muscles of the foot were activated less the stronger the flexion of the toe of the shoes was.
“When the foot muscles are allowed to work less, they are likely to become less durable over time, given that you shoot with your toes several thousand times a day,” says Daniel E Lieberman, a researcher at the University of Harvard in a press release.
Researchers suspect that this may, among other things, increase the risk of heel spurs, as the tendon under the foot can become overloaded when it has to do work that muscles would otherwise do. But they emphasize that more study is needed before such a connection can be made.
In any case, Daniel E Lieberman does not think we will see many flatter shoes in the future, although it could give our feet a better workout: “We like comfortable things. That’s why we sit in chairs and take the elevator,” he says. .
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