Your foot as a tripod

The foot as a tripod refers to three points of contact that the base of the foot makes with the ground. We want to evenly distribute weight on the foot through these three points of contact.

Because of its shape, the tripod has a unique ability to adapt to and maintain stability and balance on any surface. Just like a camera tripod, you can adjust the length and space between each leg to adapt to any surface also.

Your foot can also adapt tripod-like to any surface, as long as the foot maintains its function and shape.

Points of the foot tripod

The three “legs” of the foot tripod are the:

• Heel (called the calcaneus)
• The small (5th) toe knuckle (called the 5th metatarsal)
• The big (1st) toe knuckle (called the 1st metatarsal)

Shape of the foot tripod

The shape of the foot tripod is created via the position of the bones in their natural resting position. Whatever shape your foot creates or maintains in its natural resting position is what creates a balance between the three contact points of your tripod.

The tripod shape is formed by three arches between the three points or "legs" of the tripod described above (heel, small toe knuckle, big toe knuckle). These three arches of the foot create an arch dome that supports the foot around those three contact points.

• Medial arch - between the big toe knuckle (1st metatarsal) and the heel

• Lateral arch - between the small toe knuckle (5th metatarsal) and the heel

• Transverse arch - between the small and big toe knuckles (1st and 5th metatarsal)

Loss of the tripod or arches

If one these three arches loses its integrity or shape then your tripod may also lose the optimal contact points. The shape of your arches will provide insights into how your tripod is functioning and may give you insights on how the rest of your foot and leg function as a unit. 

• Flat foot - image D - all three arches reduce in height and the dome shape is reduced
• Normal foot - images B & C - all three arches have height and formed dome
• High arch - all three arches have increased height and dome shape is increased

Lesson Activity