The Calcaneus -A Closer Look at Heel Strike Motion 🦶💪🧠

• The calcaneus faces significant vertical forces upon contact due to its thin cortical bone and sparse trabeculae - honey comb like chambers -  creating a hollow structure that functions as a cushion during heel strike. The well-developed vascular supply maintains elevated interosseous pressure, reinforcing the slender cortical bone to flex with the application of Ground Reaction Forces (GRF). The closer to the bone they get, the denser and more fibrous just like the discs of the spine. It has the ability to spread out , neutralize and evenly dispurse the shock into the calcaneus itself. 
   
• During heel strike, the walls of the calcaneus bulge slightly, and the trabeculae with their rich blood supply swiftly repair microfractures from repeated impacts. The thin cortical walls make it easier to diagnose stress fractures as squeezing the medial and lateral walls may cause discomfort when a stress fracture is present.
• The calcaneus is protected by a well-designed fat pad made up of spiral chambers of sealed fat surrounded by fibroelastic tissue, allowing the fat pad to deform and return to its original shape, absorbing shock effectively. The fat pad reduces peak pressure points beneath the heel during static stance by evenly distributing pressure over the calcaneus surface.                                                                                                                     

The Calcaneus also makes walking more efficient  - Just have to look at the rounded shape of the calcaneus - allowing to roll and generate momentum without utilizing muscles. Walking with a heel strike pattern also reduces the metabolic cost of walking by 53%, enhances the exchange of kinetic and potential energy, reduces mechanical work by the limbs, lessens the GRF moment at the ankle, and decreases muscular activity in the ankle, knee, hip, and back.

So what happens if we don't properly transition from heel strike to reaching a stable tripod position in the midstance phase? 

•  Early departure onto forefoot - foot slap
•  Bouncy Gait
•  Weak anterior compartment
•  Tonic and overactive posterior compartment 
•  Weak and shortened lateral compartment
•  Loss of shock absorption
•  Heel Spurs 
•  Mechanical nerve impingment issues
•  Haglands issues
•  Lateral posterior ankle issues  just to name a few.  

How cool is the heel ! It has such an important role is absorbing the shock of the body as it hits the ground!

If you wish to learn more about gait and the most important parts of the foot you need to consider when looking at gait - join me in my webinar in early June 👇

Do you have clients who aren’t making progress with a foot , ankle or lower extremity issue?

Maybe you’ve tried every tool in your tool box…

Done numerous targeted assessments…

But they still haven’t been able to get lasting results.

If you’re ready to:

👣 Gain in-depth, comprehensive simplified approaches to foot,ankle and the lower extremity issues…
👣 Learn the unique, expert knowledge and tools I have acquired in 28 years.
👣 Be able to confidently offer your clients a Global whole-body approach .

This webinar will be a groundbreaking teaching experience in which you will get a solid grounding in assessment of gait broken down simplistically so you can apply it to management of common and complex foot, ankle and lower extremity issues.

You will also…

• Join other health & movement professionals, as you deepen your biomechanical knowledge of the foot & ankle in a way that’s interactive (and easily applied to clients!)
• Learn valuable, lesser-known assessments for complex and chronic foot & ankle issues… and learn how to apply them to generate improved client outcomes
• Implement your cutting-edge, new skills and tools… so you feel confident in your expert ability to approach ANY foot & ankle issue.

Register now to secure your seat 👉
https://www.thestabilisationacademy.com/promotional-webinar-registration-page-foundation-f-a