What is the windlass mechanism and what is its function?

The windlass mechanism aka movement of the medial longitudinal arch is essential for shock absorption and dissipation of forces through foot. It explains how the foot can act as both a rigid level and an adaptable shock absorber during the stance phase of gait.

What joint action activates the windlass mechanism?

If you lift up any of the toes on a weightbearing foot, especially the great toe, you pull on the plantar fascia and the arch is lifted up, activating the windlass mechanism. This works on all toes, but is much more powerful on the great toe.

What is the windlass mechanism?

The windlass mechanism describes the manner by which the plantar fascia supports the foot during weight- bearing activities and provides information regarding the biomechanical stresses placed on the plantar fascia.

What produces the windlass effect?

When the foot transition from mid-stance to toe off, the toes move from a plantar flexed or neutral position to a dorsiflexed position. The dorsiflexion of the toes produces the windlass mechanism utilizing the plantar fascia.

Does plantar fasciitis cause overpronation?

Ten percent of the population suffer from plantar fasciitis, according to the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society can be caused by over pronation. Plantar fasciitis is the most common cause of heel pain and for many individuals means painful standing or walking.

How do I prove I have plantar fasciitis?

Plantar fasciitis is diagnosed based on your medical history and physical examination. During the exam, your doctor will check for areas of tenderness in your foot. The location of your pain can help determine its cause.

Where do you feel pain if you have plantar fasciitis?

When you have plantar fasciitis, you usually feel pain in the bottom of the heel or the arch of the foot. Some people describe the pain as feeling like a bruise or an ache. The pain tends to gradually go away once you begin walking around. With continued walking, the pain may return, but usually goes away after rest.

What is the function of the windlass mechanism?

The windlass mechanism is an integral function of the foot that is critical to efficient walking and running. I am going to tell you all about how the windlass mechanism works to help you do what you love and how to test it yourself!

Where is the windlass located in the foot?

The windlass mechanism consists of the plantar aponeurosis, which is for all intents and purposes the same thing as the plantar fascia (I don’t want to argue semantics). It attaches to the plantar aspect of the heel, spans out across the plantar surface of the foot, to underneath the metatarsal heads to attach to the base of the toes.

Where does the name Windlass come from in sailing?

The term ‘windlass’ comes from sailing where it is the winch mechanism where the rope is wound around a drum, so in the foot the windlass is the plantar aponeurosis being wound around the metatarsal head. It was first described by Hicks in 1954:

What is the name of the windlass maneuver?

This is usually called Jacks test or the Hubscher’s maneuver. Technically, what we are really testing here is testing first metatarsophangeal joint dorsiflexion stiffness which is contributed to by many things, but the windlass is probably the most powerful or influential of them.