Mechanics and Energetics of Human Feet: A Contemporary Perspective for Understanding Mobility Impairments in Older Adults

Abstract

Much of our current understanding of age-related declines in mobility has been aided by decades of investigations on the role of muscle–tendon units spanning major lower extremity joints (e.g., hip, knee and ankle) for powering locomotion. Yet, mechanical contributions from foot structures are often neglected. This is despite the emerging evidence of their critical importance in youthful locomotion. With the rapid growth in the field of human foot biomechanics over the last decade, our theoretical knowledge of young asymptomatic feet has transformed, from long-held views of the foot as a stiff lever and a shock absorber to that of a versatile system that can modulate mechanical power and energy output to accommodate various locomotor task demands. In this perspective review, we predict that the next set of impactful discoveries related to locomotion in older adults will emerge by integrating the novel tools and approaches that are currently transforming the field of human foot biomechanics. By illuminating the functions of the feet in older adults, we envision that future investigations will refine our mechanistic understanding of mobility deficits affecting our aging population, which may ultimately inspire targeted interventions to rejuvenate the mechanics and energetics of locomotion.