Pes planus, or better known as flat feet, is a medical condition that affects the soles of the human feet at any point within one’s life, including at birth per Gross et. al. This condition is prevalent when the arch of the foot is collapsed, affecting a multitude of extremities throughout the human body such as outer and inner muscles in the sole of the foot, poor stability on the abnormal structure, and an increase in osteoarthritis, a noncurable condition that occurs when the ends of bones wear down at their ends. The particular relationship between flat feet and the immediate response to osteoarthritis is a prevalent mitigation to people’s lives. This association of joint injury with flat feet references the cross area (CSA), with direct relation to the biomechanical forces acted to the sole, and how it impacts the rest of the cartilage on the knee, as best said by Sachini et al. As a result, the biomechanical forces affect the comfort and biological responses on the knee, affecting the lives of millions around the world. As a result, the question this blog post seeks to provide insight on is: What mechanical components are aligned with biological components that causes this condition? Additionally, this blog posts mentions the relationship and the whether there is a direct correlation between flat feet and in osteoarthritis.
When it comes to stepping, the arch on the sole of the foot, or more known in the professional realm as the medial longitudinal arch (MLA), typically act as a cushion for, not only the leg, but the entire leg in its entirety. However, when an abnormality such as flat feet come into play, the increased CSA of the foot allows more forces to be introduced into the sole of the foot, as displayed by Kobayashia et al and illustrated in figure 1.
It is important to be clear that from a mechanical perspective, because more of the sole of the foot is being impacted by the pressure between the foot and the surface, or the floor in this case, there is more stress on the foot, and the leg, as a whole. From here, we can analyze the definition of stress being force exerted over an area, and since there is a lot of added force, the added stress begins to reflect in the joints cartilage, and muscles, typically beginning with the inside and outside foot mucles, tibiofemoral (TF) or patellofemoral (PF) compartments; the connection in the knee between the femur and the tibia according to Gross et al and illustrated in figure 2.
These repeated affects, with the prolongation of an untreated flat foot begins to take an effect and eat away att he bone, causing osteoarthritis in the process. Preventation of this must begin as early as one possibly can. This comes in the form of surgery to alter the MLA to alter its length and provide an arch. Another method is insoles, which, repeated use, begin to mold the MLA to the designated arch one needs to prevent osteoarthritis.