Figure 2.

Biomechanics of the human foot involving the plantar aponeurosis. (A) In the windlass mechanism, the plantar aponeurosis is described as wrapping around the metatarsal heads like a cable wrapping around a drum to insert onto the proximal phalanges of the toes (a). Dorsiflexion of the toes creates tension in the plantar aponeurosis (b) that exerts a linear force that pulls the calcaneus forward and effectively raises the longitudinal arch (c). This makes the foot a stiff lever for effective power transmission from the ankle joint. (B) When the foot is loaded in stance phase (a), the longitudinal arch is compressed and the foot elongates, causing the plantar aponeurosis to stretch like a rubber band and store elastic energy (b). The plantar aponeurosis then recoils as it is unloaded, returning most of this elastic energy to the foot to aid in push‐off and reduce the metabolic energy required for running