eli5: Why are flat feet generally worse than arched feet, when you have more surface area making contact with the ground?
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It’s difficult to explain, but you can give yoursellf tye experuence by tying or taping your feet to a flat and inflexible board, going from your heel to your toe balls.
Another thing about flat feet is that the arch doesn’t only work as a spring to lessen strep and make your steps better that way. It also makes the positioning of everything in the ankle awkward, it sort of tilts inward, and you end up using the muscles in feet and legs less optimally. It can affect knees too, because a slight twist in the ankle means the calf bones hit the knees differently too.
I am flat footed but I don’t really deal with the problems attributed to being flat footed, I can actually run pretty fast and can walk for hours. I do have a bit of sciatica though
Personally I think it’s a myth. If you notice more African Americans have flat feet and are generally more athletic. However they are more prone to bunions.
biomechanically, the arch can support much greater loads. the curvature allows more bones, ligaments, muscles to work together to produce and resist both downward and upward forces.
in short, arches put a spring in your step and prevent overuse injuries
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