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Foot movement disorders
Medical expert of the article
Last reviewed: 07.07.2025
[ Deviations during movements
Our feet experience great physical stress, and this can provoke many diseases. For example, scientific research proves that poor foot health can lead to knee joint disease or other parts of the leg. And not only the leg, but any part of the body.
Deviations during foot movements can disrupt a person's balance and increase the risk of falls, fractures and injuries. Deformations of bones and joints caused by injuries are then very difficult to treat. Complex methods of influence are needed - medications, orthopedic shoes, physical education, and in some cases - surgery.
Foot dysfunctions
The foot has several important functions that enable us to move faster or slower, get tired quickly or not at all. Disruptions in these functions have serious consequences not only for the foot itself, but also for the shin, calf, and any part of the body. Here are some of the most important functions of the foot.
Moving on different surfaces
We need our feet to move safely on different surfaces. These surfaces are not always perfectly smooth and they also have different degrees of hardness.
For example, it is much easier to walk on smooth asphalt than on loose sand. When the foot steps on any surface, it cushions, and therefore we do not injure the leg or fall, maintaining balance.
If the foot is damaged or weak, it cannot provide balance to the entire body. Any part of the body can be affected and injured during a fall. That is why it is so important for the feet to be strong and able to provide us with normal movement on any surface. There should be no calluses or corns on it, so we must take care of comfortable shoes.
Movement of the body in space
Thanks to the foot, the entire body moves in different directions. If the functions of the foot are impaired, a person does not have the ability to coordinate the movements of the entire body. If we compare different parts of the leg - thighs, knees, calves - the foot is the most mobile. Depriving the foot of this mobility does not allow a person to use his motor abilities.
Reducing the load on other organs
The foot takes on all the load, reducing it for other organs. This ability is especially valuable during fast and abrupt movements, such as running and jumping. The foot springs, taking on the load, and it is reduced for the knee joints, back muscles, neck and back vertebrae.
If the foot did not take on all these loads, the spine would wear out much faster.
Phases of foot movement
The step cycle, if it is complete, is divided into two main phases: the flight phase and the support phase. The first phase - the leg is raised above the ground and does not touch the surface - this is the flight phase. The second phase - the leg touches the surface, which means it has entered the support phase. UP TO 65% of the entire walking time is in the support phase, 35% - in the flight phase. That is, 35% of the time the leg hangs in the air, and 65% of the time the foot rests on the surface.
The support phase of the foot is very important because it determines how much a person achieves their goal when moving and the health of their legs. If a person does something wrong in the support phase, the leg can twist, get damaged, get injured, and the whole body can suffer. The spine in particular.
During the support phase, the foot must make proper contact with the ground so as not to experience more stress than it can withstand. Otherwise, injuries may occur.
Smoothness of foot movement
Up to 100% of all body injuries are caused by pronation. This is the movement of the foot where the outer edge of the foot lifts and the sole turns outward. This is the correct walking position.
There is also such a thing as foot supination. All other injuries occur due to incorrect movements during supination. What is supination? It is the rise of the inner, not the outer edge of the foot, in which the sole turns inward. A person very rarely fails the supination process - only in the case of impaired coordination of movements due to diseases of the nerves and muscles. In this case, a person needs a doctor's consultation and long-term treatment.
Problems with pronation occur when a person has diseased or deformed joints. Then these joints are not able to bear a heavy load, and can fail a person during movement. As a chain reaction, muscle strain and ligament tension occur, and pain in the leg can occur.
Often even medications cannot cope with this pain. It is necessary to resort to special corrective gymnastics, but only after the operation has been performed and the rehabilitation period has passed.
Incorrect foot position
When walking correctly, a person walks along an imaginary line. It has a precise location. This balance line runs along the entire length of the foot from the heel and evenly to the space between the big toe and the next to it. If a person steps along this line correctly, the weight and load are distributed evenly over the entire surface of the foot.
If a person steps more with another part of the foot while walking, the load is redistributed, and the leg can dislocate or even break. The whole body suffers from this, in particular the spine, part of the load falls on it, causing overexertion and inflammation.
Why you shouldn't cut off calluses
The accuracy of your walking movements, the coordination of these movements and their duration will depend on how healthy your soles and toes are. Calluses and corns make walking difficult, so it is important to prevent them.
If calluses have already appeared, many people make the mistake of cutting them with a blade. But this is a very bad way, because an infection can get into the wound, and then the muscle tissue will be infected. When a person walks, viruses and bacteria are added, they get into the open wound, since the foot is in a constant moist environment.
If this process is not controlled, the wound from cutting the callus will become infected and surgery may be required.
Those most at risk are those with diabetes, as their wounds heal poorly and their blood clots poorly.
Therefore, if calluses form, you need to see a doctor so that you can be treated for calluses in a hospital setting.
How to protect yourself from calluses
Corns usually occur due to improper wearing of shoes. To prevent this from happening, you need to choose shoes with arch supports and a strong, high-quality sole. Orthopedic insoles will also be good.
How do they work? The pressure on the foot is reduced by these means. From those places that bear additional load, thanks to the insoles, it is reduced, redistributed to other areas. Therefore, it is much easier to walk in shoes with insoles and orthopedic insoles. In order for the insoles to be of high quality, they must consist of shock-absorbing materials. When the foot rubs against the insoles and the upper of the shoe, insoles made of a special material reduce this friction and make movement more comfortable.
Preventive measures
If you do not wear special orthopedic shoes, at least choose shoes with a spacious toe box. This will minimize the pressure on your toes and reduce the likelihood of blisters. You can wear heels, but you need to coordinate their height.
If your heel is higher than 12 cm, you can wear it for a short time - no more than 2-3 hours in a row. Then you should rest, changing into more comfortable shoes with a low heel. For everyday wear, you need a low and stable heel - up to 4 cm high.
If you wear sports shoes and, naturally, socks, they should be made only of natural fabric. Linen or cotton are ideal. They absorb moisture well and do not allow sweat to stagnate and irritate the foot. In addition, bacteria multiply very quickly in liquid environments, and foot infection is possible.
If you have problems with foot movement and are bothered by pain in the foot or toes, you should consult a traumatologist, infectious disease specialist or rheumatologist.