Why your Feet really go Flat, the Morton’s Toe
In an 1928 Dr. Dudley Morton wrote an article in the Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery, explaining how a loss of stability at the first metatarsal bone of the foot was the real cause of such problems as Fallen Arches, Flat Feet, Weak Ankles and Tired Feet. This condition is known as a hypermobility of the first metatarsal bone, and is known by the public as a Morton’s Toe (Long Second Toe) . Dr. Morton said this loss of stability would then cause the arch to fall, tilt or collapse inwardly because it has less support than normal in keeping the arch up. This is why the arch of the foot collapses, and we get flat feet.
Once this collapsing starts toward the inside part of the foot, then a chain reaction begins to take place that can cause many problems of your foot, heel and ankle. The muscles of the ankle will attempt to fight off this unnatural inward titling or collapsing of the arch. However, if the abnormal forces put upon the muscles at the ankle and at the arch are too great, then these muscles will become strained and exhausted. They will then start to hurt in their attempt to prevent the arch from collapsing and to maintain the balance of the feet.
This unsuccessful battle of trying to prevent the arch from collapsing by the muscles of the ankle is also a common cause of tired feet and weak ankles. Chronic ankle sprains can also be caused by this acquired instability at the ankle joint due to its battle of trying to prevent the arch from collapsing. This straining or exhausting of the muscles can also cause pains and spasms at night. The good news is that these problems can be easily treated with a toe pad or a shoe insert. In reality, true “fallen arches” are a rare thing. In spite of the fact that the term is now used to refer to several foot problems, in actuality it means a total breakdown and substantial deformity of the foot. This severe condition is, in fact, a truly uncommon occurrence in our time.
