Foot-binding was a practice first carried out on young girls in Tang Dynasty China to restrict their normal growth and make their feet as small as possible. Considered an attractive quality, the effects of the process were painful and permanent.

Footbinding in Chinese Culture. The purpose was to not only arrest a young girl’s foot at a certain stage of growth, it was to actually bind the toes back underneath the ball to achieve a small bud-like appearance, a lotus-shape. This was considered desirable to men.

Despite being almost on the other side of the planet, Japan shares some geographical features with Italy. They both exhibit a similar shape and a similar surface area (Japan 372.19km2, Italy 301.102 km2). They are both predominately mountainous with the occurrence of major volcanoes and islands.

Age. As you get older, the ligaments and tendons in your body loosen a little, and your foot tends to grow longer and wider. Foot deformities. If you develop deformities like bunions, calluses, or hammer toes, your foot may become wider.

Jeison Orlando Rodríguez Hernandez, from Maracay, Venezuela, has feet measuring nearly 16 inches each and his shoes are size 26. A Venezuelan man has claimed a spot on the Guinness Book of World Records for the biggest feet.

Peasant’s foot

Larger female feet are not only literally regarded as a sexual turn-off but, when referred to in proverbs, they usually stand for something else. Metaphorically women’s small feet indicate “the right measure” in marital relationships.

Egyptian, Greek or square ? The Egyptian foot is characterised by a first toe that is larger than the others. It is the most common foot type, occurring in 50.8% of the population.

The prevalence of flat feet did not differ by gender or education but was greatest in African Americans, followed by non-Hispanic Whites and Puerto Ricans. High arch was more common in women than in men but did not differ by race/ethnicity or education.

Flat feet can affect the alignment of the body when a person is standing, walking, or running. As a result, they can increase the likelihood of pain developing in the hips, knees, and ankles.

Veterans with severe bilateral flat feet can receive a disability rating of 30%. Veterans with severe unilateral flat foot can receive a disability rating of 20%.

For years, the flat-footed have been warned that their lives would be plagued with pain and injury and doctors have tried using surgery and braces to correct the “deformity.” But after decades of derision, new research is showing that flat feet are perfectly functional and may even be an advantage in sports.

Everyone has flat feet at birth. By age 6, arches typically form. Sometimes, flat feet (or fallen arches) appear during the teen or adult years. You may have pain and difficulty walking.

Again, it may not slow you down, but it can lead to strained arches–an injury commonly known as Plantar Fasciitis–and also to shin splints. However, as long as you have no symptoms of injury, you should not worry too much about it.

Over-the-counter arch supports may help relieve the pain caused by flatfeet. Or your doctor might suggest custom-designed arch supports, which are molded to the contours of your feet. Arch supports won’t cure flatfeet, but they often reduce symptoms.

Exercises for Flat Feet

1. Heel stretches.
2. Tennis/golf ball rolls.
3. Arch lifts.
4. Calf raises.
5. Stair arch raises.
6. Towel curls.
7. Toe raises.
8. Other treatments.

Best shoes for flat feet

• Women’s work shoes. Alegria Duette Black Shoe: $89.95.
• Men’s work shoes. Dansko Wyatt Black Full Grain: $140.
• Women’s dress shoes. Vionic Minnie Kitten Heel Pump: $139.95.
• Men’s dress shoes. Vionic Shane Oxford: $149.95.
• Children’s shoes. Saucony Baby Jazz Lite Sneaker: $40.
• 6 and 7.
• 8 and 9.
• 10 and 11.

Flat feet are caused by a variety of conditions including injuries, obesity, and arthritis. Aging, genetics, and pregnancy can also contribute to flat feet. You’re also more likely to have flat feet if you have a neurological or muscular disease such as cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy, or spina bifida.

If flat feet cause over-pronation in runners, they will be prone to injuries such as tendonitis. Treatment for this condition includes: Utilizing custom orthotics such as braces or insoles, that are custom made to fit the exact contours of the runner’s foot, will provide immense support.

Running on true flat feet is akin to running on Jell-O. Flat feet tend to overpronate. This often causes the legs to collapse inward with each footfall. Left unchecked, this can lead to overuse injuries ranging from shin splints to aches and pains in the ankles, knees, hips and lower back.

One study found no significant relationship between the foot arch height and the vertical jump height in both normal-arched and flat-footed individuals [3]. Other studies showed that having flat feet did not affect the motor performances in vertical jumps, sprints and static balance in children [4].

In fact, there are many flat-footed individuals among the ranks of elite professional athletes, including marathoners and NBA players. For many people, flat arches are asymptomatic.

Exercises to try

1. Jumping jacks. Jumping jacks are a type of plyometric exercise that can help you jump higher by building lower body strength.
2. Single-leg deadlifts with jump. This advanced exercise builds stability as you explosively jump up using one leg at a time.
3. Burpees.
4. Forward linear jumps.
5. Squat jumps.
6. Rebounding.

Conclusion. Short distance runners with high arch foot have improved dynamic balance and speed when compared to low and neutral arch foot.

People with high arches have an increased amount of weight placed on the ball and heel of the foot when walking or standing. This can result in pain and difficulty with posture and balance. People with high arches also have a greater tendency to suffer from ankle sprains as feet supinate and roll inward.

High arches may contribute to excessive strain on joints and muscles. Your feet may not absorb shock well, especially if you perform a lot of impact or jumping activities. When looking for a shoe, look for cushioning to compensate for your lack of natural shock absorption. A curved last also may help in some cases.

As expected, the high-arched runners had much stiffer legs, by almost 50 percent, than the low-arched runners, meaning that the high-arched runners ran with much less up-and-down motion.

When you have high arches, one or both heels are usually tilted toward the middle of your body. This causes foot and ankle instability, which can cause pain and increase your risk of ankle sprains, according to the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons.

Some of the high arches treatments we may recommend include:

1. Modifying your daily activities.
2. Wearing ankle braces.
3. Taking anti-inflammatory medications.
4. Getting and wearing custom orthotics (shoe inserts)
5. Doing physical therapy.

The arch of a cavus foot will appear high even when standing. In addition, one or more of the following symptoms may be present: Hammertoes (bent toes) or claw toes (toes clenched like a fist) Calluses on the ball, side or heel of the foot.