Simon K Spooner<[log in to unmask]> writes:
<< The plantar fascia provides supination moment to the foot via the windlass
mechanism. In the presence of excessive STJ pronation moment the loading on
the plantar fascia may be increased, leading to micro-failure at the
enthesis. We examine spatial orientation of the STJ axis and the position of
the CoP relative to this. By providing an external source of supination
moment either via orthotics or taping (although the ability to do this with
tape is highly questionable) we may "off-load" the plantar fascia to some
degree. >>
*** Please give some more details of the degree to which the non-contractile,
non force-producing fascia provide a moment by acting like a pulley,
especially since a moment is defined as the product of a force and the
perpendicular distance from the fulcrum to the line of action of the force?
Is this moment large enough over a few degrees of increased pronation to
cause adequate strain in the fasciae? Has this action been shown to cause
"microfailure" or is this only an hypothesis so far? Only muscles or
external forces may produce moments and it is not the muscles, so that the
postulated moment must be the result of external movement as encountered
during stabilisation or gait.
<<Also recent research shows a direct relationship between tension in the
plantar fascia and tension in the Achilles tendon and degree of dorsiflexion
at the hallux: stretch soleus /gastroc with toes dorsiflexed. >>
*** Did this research conclude that this relationship was correlative or
causal?
Dr Mel C Siff
Denver, USA
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Supertraining/
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