Special By By Ken Wightman Jan 11, 2010 in Health Snug shoes with the attendant support they offer may not be the best answer for foot problems. A barefoot stroll down a sandy beach may be good for the soul but also for the sole - and the rest of the foot as well. About 25 percent of the bones in our bodies are in our feet; But what all those bones, joints, ligaments, muscles and tendons are getting up to as we walk has long been a mystery. Now UWO researcher Tom Jenkyn, an associate professor of biomechanics, departments of mechanical engineering and school of kinesiology at the London Ontario university, is discovering “what the foot is doing inside the shoe.” His research is challenging a lot of accepted beliefs. For instance, he has discovered that even properly fitted shoes can weaken some smaller muscles in the foot. Shoes supply support, reducing the demands made on certain foot muscles. With less use, less exercise, these muscles weaken just as one would expect. According to the UWO professor of biomechanics, walking barefoot for even part of the day is beneficial. Even simply loosening the shoelaces to allow some movement of the feet inside the shoes helps. Traditionally the wear pattern on the soles of our shoes offers clues to the movement of our feet while walking or running. Ken Wightman When buying athletic footwear it has been important to determine whether one was a pronator, overpronator or oversupinator, also called an underpronator. It sounded complicated but it wasn’t. All pronation refers to is the inward roll of the foot, particularly the heel and arch, while walking or running. Overpronators tend to wear down their running shoes on the inside of the shoe towards the toe area, while oversupinators (underpronators) do the opposite – wearing down the outside of the shoe instead. Considering the complexity of the foot, this three divisions approach sounds a little too neat, too simple, but according to Jenkyn, “We had no way to contradict it.” Now, researchers at the UWO are using two methods for measuring joint movement in feet during walking and solving a technically tricky problem. Some shoes are believed to decrease running injuries by encouraging changes in foot motion. To test this, reflective markers are affixed to the foot via windows cut in the shoe. Credit: University of Western Ontario If x-ray fluoroscopy rings a bell, it should. Jenkyn smiles as he admits that this is, “exactly what they were doing in the shoe stores” in the ‘50s. The big difference is the university is using two highly sophisticated fluoroscope units producing images which are mated with information gleaned from a previous CT-scan of a subject’s feet. This approach results in 3-D images with more in common with George Lucas Industrial Light and Magic than the Buster Brown stores of yesterday. The complete movement of each bone in the foot can be tracked in three dimensions, and all while the foot is still inside a shoe! If x-rays and CT-scans sound like each subject is getting a lot of radiation, they aren't. For instance, the CT-scan is done at one thirtieth the usual dosage. The information is read only by a computer and not by a radiologist; Therefore, clinical contrast is not necessary. Jenkyn is discovering there is not only a huge amount of variability in foot movement between people but even from footstep to footstep in each individual. These differences are “subtle but significant.” So what does this research mean to the average person? It means a rethinking of the traditional approach to foot problems. Injure your shoulder and the last thing a physiotherapist will do is brace your arm, prevent movement and leave it that way. But that approach, so wrong for a shoulder, is the one taken when it comes to feet. It is possible that in certain cases foot problems such as fallen arches and Morton’s neuroma could be corrected with orthodics designed to exercise the foot, to strengthen it, to encourage healing. So, what shoe does Tom Jenkyn wear? At home, he likes a backless pair of Crocs; These allow his forefoot to spread and they exercise his foot muscles. He says any backless sandal which a person finds comfortable and which does not confine the foot should work – and make the foot work, too. You are what you wear, at least when it comes to your feet and shoes according to Tom Jenkyn, an associate professor at the University of Western Ontario (UWO).About 25 percent of the bones in our bodies are in our feet; But what all those bones, joints, ligaments, muscles and tendons are getting up to as we walk has long been a mystery.Now UWO researcher Tom Jenkyn, an associate professor of biomechanics, departments of mechanical engineering and school of kinesiology at the London Ontario university, is discovering “what the foot is doing inside the shoe.”His research is challenging a lot of accepted beliefs. For instance, he has discovered that even properly fitted shoes can weaken some smaller muscles in the foot. Shoes supply support, reducing the demands made on certain foot muscles. With less use, less exercise, these muscles weaken just as one would expect.According to the UWO professor of biomechanics, walking barefoot for even part of the day is beneficial. Even simply loosening the shoelaces to allow some movement of the feet inside the shoes helps.Today’s major players in the footwear industry are showing great interest in the UWO program with both Nike and Saucony supplying free shoes. Another footwear company has offered shoes at cost. This research could influence shoe design someday in the future.When buying athletic footwear it has been important to determine whether one was a pronator, overpronator or oversupinator, also called an underpronator. It sounded complicated but it wasn’t.All pronation refers to is the inward roll of the foot, particularly the heel and arch, while walking or running. Overpronators tend to wear down their running shoes on the inside of the shoe towards the toe area, while oversupinators (underpronators) do the opposite – wearing down the outside of the shoe instead.Considering the complexity of the foot, this three divisions approach sounds a little too neat, too simple, but according to Jenkyn, “We had no way to contradict it.” Now, researchers at the UWO are using two methods for measuring joint movement in feet during walking and solving a technically tricky problem.They are using both x-ray fluoroscopy to view foot movement inside the shoe as well as two centimetre holes, windows if you like, cut into the footwear to gain insight. Learning to cut holes in shoes, without weakening the structural integrity, was an entire project in itself.If x-ray fluoroscopy rings a bell, it should. Jenkyn smiles as he admits that this is, “exactly what they were doing in the shoe stores” in the ‘50s. The big difference is the university is using two highly sophisticated fluoroscope units producing images which are mated with information gleaned from a previous CT-scan of a subject’s feet.This approach results in 3-D images with more in common with George Lucas Industrial Light and Magic than the Buster Brown stores of yesterday. The complete movement of each bone in the foot can be tracked in three dimensions, and all while the foot is still inside a shoe!If x-rays and CT-scans sound like each subject is getting a lot of radiation, they aren't. For instance, the CT-scan is done at one thirtieth the usual dosage. The information is read only by a computer and not by a radiologist; Therefore, clinical contrast is not necessary.Jenkyn is discovering there is not only a huge amount of variability in foot movement between people but even from footstep to footstep in each individual. These differences are “subtle but significant.”So what does this research mean to the average person? It means a rethinking of the traditional approach to foot problems. Injure your shoulder and the last thing a physiotherapist will do is brace your arm, prevent movement and leave it that way.But that approach, so wrong for a shoulder, is the one taken when it comes to feet. It is possible that in certain cases foot problems such as fallen arches and Morton’s neuroma could be corrected with orthodics designed to exercise the foot, to strengthen it, to encourage healing.So, what shoe does Tom Jenkyn wear? At home, he likes a backless pair of Crocs; These allow his forefoot to spread and they exercise his foot muscles. He says any backless sandal which a person finds comfortable and which does not confine the foot should work – and make the foot work, too. More about Uwo, Jenkyn, Feet More news from uwo jenkyn feet