Shoes may change the structure of our ankle bones
Wearing shoes seems to affect the density and volume of a spongy network within a bone in our ankles, which could affect the validity of previous research into the evolution of walking
A recent study has revealed that wearing shoes may cause subtle changes in the structure of ankle bones. Researchers from the University of Chicago, in collaboration with other institutions, utilized high-resolution CT scans to examine the trabecular bone in the talus, an ankle bone, of 56 modern humans. The study included both shoe-wearing individuals and barefoot individuals from the mid-19th century, housed at the Natural History Museum in London.
The findings indicate that barefoot individuals had relatively denser trabecular bone towards the front of the ankle and a wider range of strut orientations, suggesting that their ankles experienced forces from various angles. In contrast, shoe-wearing individuals had more overall trabecular bone, with a greater concentration towards the inner and back of the ankle.
This could be due to shoes shifting load towards the inner ankle and holding the foot in an extended position, particularly when they have heels. The study emphasizes the importance of considering the impact of footwear on bone structure when studying human evolution and foot movement.
Brief written by urgent.news from New Scientist's own syndicated text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
