Jacks test is a test that clinicians often use to check the integrity of the arch of the foot and its associated windlass mechanism. To do the test, you need to get the person standing and then grab the big toe and lift it up. As this happen the arch of the foot should come up naturally. This is how the arch of the foot supports itself during gait. The purpose of Jacks test is to make sure that this process is working properly. It is assumed that the big toe should be easy to lift up, as this means that the arch can establish itself easier and the heel can come off the ground much easier.
There has been a lot of comment on this shoe from Airia who they claim is the ‘biomechanically’ perfect running shoe Is it?
There was a detailed analysis of the claims by Run Research Junkie in two blog posts:
The new ‘biomechanically perfect’ running shoe from Airia?
Another look at the performance claims by the Airia One running shoe; a theoretical context
I also notice that there is a PodiaPaedia entry on the shoe as well as the above video at Podiatry TV.
The shoe looks interesting and certainly has some possible clinical applications, but I do not think that it will be for everyone.
There is no doubt that running is probably one of the best ways to improve fitness and health. It is easy to go for a run, it can be done at any time and probably almost anywhere and you can do it by yourself or with a group. The benefits are well known and well documented. However, there is a downside and that is anywhere between 20% up to 70% of runners get an injury each year (depending on how you want to state or manipulate the research). The main culprit for these injuries is probably just simply doing too much too soon. That is, increasing the distance and speed that you run at faster than the body can adapt to. TO avoid this you need to start slowly and build up slowly and give the body plenty of time to adapt to the increasing demands on it. there are plenty of blogs that discuss these issues.
Homeopathy is an alternative or complementary approach to health care that makes a number of claims for it. Homeopathy involved the use of very diluted agents in water. There has been some suggestion that foo problems can be treated with it. However, every single clinical trial of homeopathy has shown that its does not work. Every study of the possible physiological mechanism of homeopathy has shown that it does not work. If someone does get better with homeopathy, think placebo.
