Abstract
Human upright posture is very unstable, particularly in the sagittal plane. The spinal column is held like a mast by chains of long muscles acting together like ropes.
It consists, however, of 24 vertebrae which would buckle under the strain without the action of the short intervertebral muscles and the support given by the abdominal cavity and its walls. Analogically, the arch of the foot consists of 12 bones balancing the leg over the spherical talus.
Disturbed function of the feet causes chain reactions throughout the entire motor system as does a dysfunction of the deep stabilisation system of the trunk manifesting itself as myofascial trigger points (TrPs) which restrict movement. There is a considerable interaction of both stabilisation systems.