Scientists have found that a muscle in our feet, earlier believed to be behind the ability to walk upright, had played an important role in how humans run.
Unlike other living beings like chimpanzees, which have opposable digits on their feet, humans had developed arched feet to help upright walking.
The study revealed that foot muscles are useful for helping us push against the ground. This supports the claim that strong foot muscles could have helped us to walk and run.
“Recent research suggests that muscles in our feet are key to how the foot functions during walking and running,” said lead author Dominic Farris from University of Exeter.
“Our study provides direct evidence showing the significance of these foot muscles in supporting the performance of the human foot. Contrary to expectations, PIMs contribute minimally to supporting the arch of the foot during walking and running,” he added.
