Foot bone structure and plantar soft tissue deformation behavior in different functional positions

The arch changes during gait are complex. At the end of the support phase, the windlass mechanism drives arch reconstruction, while arch flexibility at this stage does not affect the arch reconstruction. However, differences in arch flexibility can directly lead to changes in arch buffering patterns during weight-bearing conditions. These findings advance the understanding of foot biomechanics and offer insights into foot function assessment, orthotic design, and therapeutic strategies.