The Foot – Main Informant for Sensorimotor Signals

The sensorimotor function includes the recording and processing of bodily sensations as well as the ensuing response of the muscles and the musculoskeletal system to these sensations. The feet present essential basic information in the sensorimotor information flow. They determine the beginning and end of the kinematic chain of functionality:

The brain is constantly informed about the condition of the muscles and the spatial orientation of the body. This is how coordinated movement and posture is even possible in the first place.

The foot muscles of civilized people is barely stimulated. Motor commands that would have to start from the foot are greatly reduced and stunted. This results in degeneration and dysfunction in the entire musculoskeletal system.

Afferent impulses from muscle spindles, tendon receptors, joint receptors and mechanoreceptors make up the sum of the proprioceptive information from the periphery of the musculoskeletal system to the brain. Among other things, effective control of movement requires that important information related to the composition of the ground, slope and temperature be transmitted. Afferents from the vestibular, visual and craniomandibular subsystems in the brain and cerebellum are interconnected to control the head. For all incoming signals, the brain creates the reflex-neuromotor response as efference to the (foot) muscles.

If the receptors of the foot signal a weak muscle tone, there is a consequence-laden chain reaction:

• Deformities of the foot bones
• Weakening support of the musculoskeletal system
• Static disorders, muscular imbalances to the temporomandibular joint which induce pain

Over 80 percent of all pain and musculoskeletal problems are regarded as functional disorders of the myofascial system. What remains is an incoming diagnosis that considers the various subsystems. It is only symptomatically treated; treatment success remains low. This explains, for example, the failure of the therapeutic options for chronic back pain. A rethinking of the treatment is long overdue. Amongst others, it’s called for in the European Guidelines for the Treatment of Nonspecific Back Pain (www.backpaineurope.org).

Back pain has been the most widespread health problem for years. The reasons that underlie this and similar complaints amongst about 80% of patients aren’t due to bones, but rather muscular dysfunction.