Basmajian and Stecko used simultaneous intramuscular EMG of six leg and foot muscles in 20 subjects to answer a century-old debate: do muscles or passive structures primarily support the foot arch? Subjects were seated and their foot loaded artificially at 100, 200, and 400 pounds across five ankle positions to isolate arch loading from postural muscle activity.
Understanding that passive structures handle normal loads while muscles provide dynamic reserve helps explain why flatfoot reconstruction focuses on restoring ligamentous support rather than just muscle strengthening.
Basmajian and Stecko used simultaneous intramuscular EMG of six leg and foot muscles in 20 subjects to answer a century-old debate: do muscles or passive structures primarily support the foot arch? Subjects were seated and their foot loaded artificially at 100, 200, and 400 pounds across five ankle positions to isolate arch loading from postural muscle activity.
Understanding that passive structures handle normal loads while muscles provide dynamic reserve helps explain why flatfoot reconstruction focuses on restoring ligamentous support rather than just muscle strengthening.