_Inclinations_ of the Feet—How to Make them Tread Squarely—Peculiar
Lasts—Weak Ankles—Cultivation of Muscle—Turning in of the Toes.
There remains still one other defect to be noticed—that of treading
upon the side of the foot. This is a very common fault, and seems to
be a habit often acquired quite early. The feet appear to leave the
old, upright way of getting through the world, and take a sidewise
deviation. Having commenced losing their uprightness when young,
they, unless speedily helped, seldom recover it entirely afterward.
The individual who possesses such unfortunate _inclinations_ never
has the satisfaction of knowing what it is to stand up in _perfect
rectitude_. Whether the physical leaning of the feet has any tendency
to create a moral one-sidedness may be considered an open question.
It is hardly safe to say that it does _not_, when we know that the
whole carriage, attitude, and dress of the individual has an effect
upon the condition of the mind. But leaving that to be settled as it
may, we must see what can be done to straighten the feet up to their
natural position.
Feet that tread upon the _inside_ are, many of them, _flattened_
somewhat at the same time. This latter fault may come from any of
the influences previously pointed out, or from a natural weakness of
the muscles and ligaments of the ankle, which condition frequently
exists in children. When this is the case, the arch of the foot being
turned, the weight of the body is improperly directed upon it—that
is, the arch bears this weight slightly upon one side instead of
directly _over_ itself. This tends to break it down and make the
foot flat. The flatness, if already existing, may tend to throw the
foot still more toward the side. Either way, the first thing to be
done is to counteract the flatness by a sufficiently long heel under
the shoe, to support the arch. The shoe should also be made upon a
flat-bottomed last, and one that will compel it to draw tight along
the sides and ankle. Another requisite is that the counter shall be
very _stiff_ on the inside, while on the opposite side it should be
_weak_. It should also be high as well as firm, sometimes _very_
high, as when the ankle requires very much support. When, however,
it reaches so high as to touch the prominences of the joint, it must
be carefully thinned on the edge to prevent chafing the bone. If the
weakness is but slight, the principal part of the stiffness may be
near the bottom, where a good deal of it will do no harm.
All persons having feet thus turned should patronize the last maker
before expecting to accomplish much toward correcting them. An
ordinary last is, in these cases, good for nothing. It needs to be
straight, or nearly so, on its outside edge, from heel to ball, and
that part between the heel and instep—the back half of it—should be
very full on the outside, while it should be much hollowed out on the
_inside_. In other words without altering the general form of the
front part, _the bulk of the wood in the back and middle parts should
incline toward, and be on, the outside_. The bottom of the last,
_particularly at the heel_, may then be thinned off at the outside
edge of the _sole_, leaving it deepest, or thickest, relatively, at
its _inside_. It then has the appearance of being _inclined over
outwardly_. The shoe or boot made upon it would really be inclined
outwardly, and possess a tendency to push the foot which wore it
over in the same direction. This is its precise intention. The maker
must not forget to see that the upper is lasted over equally on both
sides, or more on the outside, if either. Then it is just such a
shoe as would fit easily and comfortably a foot that treads outside;
and _for that very reason_ it is exactly such a one as _ought to be
worn_ by a foot that treads _inwardly_. All the force exerted by the
stiffness of the counter, and the _inclination of the whole shoe_,
goes toward righting up the foot and pushing it over outwardly. Still
there is nothing that can _hurt_ the foot—only a steady and gentle
pressure in the right direction, which does not interfere with the
use of the muscles.
In extreme cases a further precaution may be taken by building the
heels more upon the inside than the other, and raising them a little
the highest on that side, fortifying them still more by some large
nails, while the _outside_ is not guarded at all. The inside edge of
the sole, if sufficiently thick, may be treated in the same way.
We have said the last should be _flat_. It ought to be quite as much
so as the foot; and the long heel must not be forgotten. Of course if
there is _no_ flatness of the shank, as is sometimes the case, there
need be none in the last.
This plan of treatment will not only right up the foot, but we
believe it will be a great help toward raising the flattened arch.
At least, it ought not to be neglected in any case of flat-foot
associated with treading inward; for as long as the foot treads
on the inside, there is one cause—weight wrongly directed on the
arch—constantly operating to break it down. And this might defeat all
the efforts for its restoration.
Those feet that tread _outside_ need exactly the same treatment
recommended for the others, only, in the shoes made for them, it
must be directed in a way exactly opposite. The stiffness of the
counter must be on the outside, as also the guarding of the heel.
The last must be straight and _very full_ upon the _inside_. The
main bulk of the wood between the heel and instep should be on that
side, projecting well over the bottom at the ball, while it is spare,
thinned, or hollowed on the other. The bottom should be thinned off
at the inner edge, so that when placed upon a level surface it seems
to lean that way. In a word, it will look as though it would fit
beautifully a foot that treads _inward_. _Then it is just adapted for
one that goes outward._ The whole shape and fit of a boot made upon
such a last exerts an easy pressure, tending to right up the foot
and force it to tread on the opposite side. The principle has not
heretofore been generally recognized. Let it not be forgotten that
the last that would appear to fit a foot that treads outward is just
the one to be used for a foot that goes inward, and _vice versa_.
When this is acted upon, the principal step is taken in overcoming
the difficulty.
But as many persons having such feet preserve the natural form of
them by treading the boots outside, it is about as well to let them
go so, as attempt to right them up, even if a little more leather
is thus worn out. On the contrary, when the tendency is to tread
_inside_, the remedy can not be applied too soon if it is wished to
avoid the big joints that result from such a habit.
Without the lasts here mentioned, however, a little temporary
improvement can still be effected in those feet that tread over but
slightly, by what shoemakers call “working under” the sole of the
shoe on the side opposite that which treads over, and by also putting
a piece of leather on the last _above the sole or bottom_, to make
room in the upper at that side without increasing the width of the
sole. The _sole_ may be “worked full” on the _treading-over_ side at
the same time.
Feet that tread outside generally, if not always, have good arches.
The directions here given, if put in practice by a shoemaker who
can appreciate and apply them thoroughly, will, it is believed,
straighten up and cure any case of treading-over feet that can be
helped at all. And this probably includes the majority of instances.
The adoption of such lasts has never been fairly tried, as far as we
know, and we are quite confident they will prove successful.
The turning over of the foot is believed to be sometimes occasioned
in children by their being obliged or encouraged to stand or walk
upon them for too long a time, when making their first attempts, in
infancy. The bones, ligaments, and muscles being all soft, tender,
and weak at this period, they may be forced into almost any shape
by pressure or overstraining. This is something worthy of careful
attention from parents. It is very easy to let a child contract a
habit of walking which will render the feet and legs deformed through
a whole lifetime. It is also very easy to prevent it, and give the
child a natural, upright, easy, and graceful walk by taking a little
pains at the proper period. And it should also be remembered that
crooked feet and ankles are more easily straightened while they are
young than when the foot has obtained its growth, and every part
become firmly settled in its false position.
The legs and feet may turn inward, developing knockknees and
flat-foot, or outward, growing into bow-legs, with the feet
invariably treading over the opposite way. If a child grows up with
either of these distortions, after being born with sound limbs, which
might have been continued in their natural perfection, there is, on
the part of somebody, a sad lack of duty.
It is quite possible, also, that this habit may be adopted by
children sometimes from wearing a shoe that hurts the foot. The
sufferer may turn it on one side to avoid a peg, or some rough
projection on the insole, and in this way the fault may be developed
in some of those cases where one foot treads over, while the other
stands upright. And children will often get into an awkward manner
of standing or walking, even without any reason for it—from sheer
carelessness—and require a great deal of watching, in order to train
up their feet correctly.[6]
It is to be borne in mind that in all cases of weak ankles, except
those incurably so, the object should be to support them no more than
is necessary; but instead, to allow the muscles to be used as much as
possible for the sake of _strengthening them_. When the whole support
comes from braces—in the shoe or outside of it—there is nothing
left to be done by the muscles on the side of the foot and leg, and
consequently they remain weak. The law of growth and strength is use,
exercise, or labour. Hence, though guards and braces are sometimes
required for weak-ankled children, there ought to be plenty of room
between them and the foot; and it will be well to discard them as
soon as a leather stiffening in the shoe can be safely substituted.
There are many movements of the _Light Gymnastics_ that for weak
ankles would be highly beneficial. It would be well, where there is
an opportunity, to adopt all those movements in which the muscles of
the feet are called into play such as charging, leaning, bracing,
springing on the toes, and, in short, almost the whole routine of
exercises; and to practice them, cautiously at first, but thoroughly,
until the muscles and ligaments become strong enough to do their duty
in bracing up the foot without any assistance.
There are many feet in which the _toes_ turn inward in walking—a
habit which may be easily corrected by a little care and
perseverance, and the subject of it enabled to go on his way
rejoicing in the knowledge that he has gained a respectable walk in
place of one that was ridiculously awkward. All that is required
to change the habit is to develope the strength of the muscles by
calling them into exercise. An every-day practice of turning the
feet outward as far as possible, for a few minutes at a time, will
do a great deal. If, in addition to this, the step is constantly
watched, the toes being kept turned out until the muscles are
tired, and then, after resting by a return to the old step, the toes
are again forced outward, and this is repeated continuously for
a few weeks, the awkwardness will be entirely gone. The practice
of light gymnastics is a good corrective for this fault; and the
dancing-school is another equally excellent. It is to be hoped that
both of them will have their due influence in this respect, till an
ungraceful walk is far less common than it is now. With such easy
means of correcting and avoiding these faults, any one who will not
make a little effort for that purpose, deserves, to say the least, a
good share of ridicule.[7]
There is a less number of feet that are turned _too much_ outward,
and these can be brought into their right place by the same means
directed in the opposite way. The only trouble with them usually is
a habit, or a weakness of particular muscles. If the toes are turned
in, and perseveringly kept so for a short time, a great difference
will be discovered. A further continuance in well-doing will bring
its reward in an easy, natural, and graceful step.
Those feet that are wholly turned, or deformed by being drawn up at
the heel or toe, and those impaired by disease of the structure, are
cases belonging to the surgeon and physician. Many of them might
probably have been prevented by calling in the surgeon’s aid during
the childhood of the unfortunate possessor. Let us hope that few who
can be saved from such disfigurement will be allowed to suffer from
it through ignorance or culpable negligence in the future.
FOOTNOTES:
[6] Another reason for care in guarding against weak ankles is thus
given in a work upon the “Theory and Practice of the Movement-Cure,”
by Dr. Charles F. Taylor.
“Weak ankles, often the result of the ungraceful, and, in other
respects, pernicious fashion of wearing high, narrow-heeled shoes,
straining them by their rolling about, etc., may be the exciting
cause of _lateral curvature of the spine_. The weaker ankle is
generally the _left_, and the individual soon forms the habit of
standing on the right foot. The lower portion of the spine is thrown
to the _left_, and the dorsal portion necessarily thrown to the
_right_.” In another place he repeats: “We find that almost without
exception, in curvature to the _right_, the _left_ ankle is much
weaker than the other. Movements of the foot must be employed, such
as inward and outward flexion, twisting the whole leg from the hip,
and many others, calculated to strengthen the left leg, hip, and
ankle.”
[7] As a matter not wholly out of place, it may be said that the
graceful walker stands upright, and in taking a step uses the
muscles and joints of the _hip_, the _knee_, and the _toes_. Many
people use the toes but very little, and their step lacks _spring_,
_elasticity_, _life_, and _grace_; while others do not use the
muscles in front of the hip enough, and their walk has no dignity.
Instead of swinging the whole leg, they seem as though kicking their
feet along ahead of them, swinging only that half of it below the
knee. Stiff coverings on the feet, or very high heels under them,
effectually prevent all gracefulness in walking.