Architectural Arches Work Under Compression and the Arches in Our Feet Work Under Compression Too.
If an Architect were to supports an arch (under the curve instead of at the ends), the Individual rocks would become loose. Instead, They must let the arch Rest in its Natural State With Gravity. The Rocks Share The Stresses of The Arch. They Distribute the Forces Evenly across All Components.
Modern Shoes with Arch Support, Stretch and Pull our feet apart. Our feet are Not Strong to Respond to the Ground when being Pulled Apart. They are not in their Strongest Structure. We really DON’T want Arch Support in Our Shoes.
Surprisingly; Not only do we not want arch support. We don’t even want to support both ends of our arch.
Arches Come in 2 Types.
One type is Supported by the Ground (or lower levels of a building etc.) on Both Ends of the arch.
The other type is only supported by the ground etc. on One End, And has a counterweight that tilts past the Center of Gravity.
Both types are valid engineering and can have strong enough arches built to support either. And in Neither Case DO they have Support under the Arching shape itself.
When We Walk or stand, the arch of our foot is mostly supported on both ends.
However, We Don’t want to run this way.
If We let our Heels touch the ground when we run, it puts us in a Compromised Position. If the ground shifts, or our grip on the ground shifts, it can stretch our arch, and It can put the Forefoot and Heel into a Weak Structure. The ground that we run on, and our lack of connection to it, doesn’t have the reliable foundation of a building. Therefore it’s Not Safe to put both ends of the arch down.
When We Run on our Forefoot, Our Arch is supported on one end, with our body as the counterweight leaning forward past our center of gravity. This is the Safe Running Form for us. It allows the Forefoot and Heel to shift their orientation as needed, without pulling them apart. Only the Forefoot can slip. No two things slipping (forefoot and heel), means no ripping.
The body stays together, as the Heel follows the Forefoot’s Lead, and takes the Rest of the Body along with it. The Arch Stays Under Compression.
Working in this Safe, Uncompromised way, allows us to build up all of our many foot muscles. Gradually increasing the strength of the arch to support larger and larger loads. These larger force loads can be; faster paces, steeper down hills, longer distance endurance, and our overall ability to stay injury free over a variety of sharp rocks and other unexpected objects.
Our Arches are Designed to support us. Our Current Physical Condition determines how long they can support us. Us Exercising within our Limits, allows us to Build Strength. This Strength can Support us Better and Longer, Gradually Increasing our Limits.
