The Most Unfortunate Design Flaws in the Human Body

The Most Unfortunate Design Flaws in the Human Body: The Overly Complicated Human Foot

Anthropologist Jeremy DeSilva of Boston University put it this way:

Starting with the foot, DeSilva held up a cast with 26 bones and said: "You wouldn't design it out of 26 moving parts." Our feet have so many bones because our ape-like ancestors needed flexible feet to grasp branches. But as they moved out of the trees and began walking upright on the ground in the past 5 million years or so, the foot had to become more stable, and bit by bit, the big toe, which was no longer opposable, aligned itself with the other toes and our ancestors developed an arch to work as a shock absorber. "The foot was modified to remain rigid," said DeSilva. "A lot of BandAids were stuck on these bones." But the bottom line was that our foot still has a lot of room to twist inwards and outwards, and our arches collapse. This results in: ankle sprains, plantar fasciitis, Achilles tendonitis, shin splints, and broken ankles. These are not modern problems, due to stiletto heels; Fossils show broken ankles that have healed as far back as 3 million years ago.

Design for movement

Design for movement: "At a basic level, architecture is like a shoe: a useful tool designed to protect the human body from harm caused by the natural elements.


"Yet over time, we can become over-reliant on its comfort, losing our dexterity and our ability to withstand even the slightest discomforts. So what is meant to help us may, in fact, hinder us by making things too easy, removing all physical challenges and other stressors that are essential for optimal health." Design for movement Lauren Friedrich, a 2016 graduate of Harvard's Graduate School of Design (GSD)

Celebrities Who Have Used Reflexology-Sarah Jessica Parker

By Christopher Peterson 

Sarah Jessica Parker

Sarah Jessica Parker reports her beauty indulgences include reflexology.

“Every now and then, there is this place called Angel Feet [I go to] that's amazing. It's a reflexology place. I don't know about any of that — that doesn't really matter me. The fact is that someone will rub your feet for an hour. I don't care what they find out about my insides, or different organs. That goes in one ear and out the other. The fact of the matter is that they will rub your feet for an hour. You just have to find the hour. It's not inexpensive, and it's not highway robbery. It's right in the middle there. It's worth every penny, I will say!” (SJP Shares Her Top Beauty Must Haves, February 22, 2012 by Beauty) http://www.popsugar.com/beauty/Sarah-Jessica-Parker-Favorite-Beauty-Products-7501332

Doing reflexology is good for you — for reasons you never expected

A new British study may help answer old questions about reflexology. Does the reflexologist receive as much benefit from reflexology practice as the client? Do reflexologists live longer? It may also raise a new question. Does self reflexology create results beyond those attributable to working the reflex areas of the hands and feet?

The study was about sitting time and fidgeting. It turns out that the positives and negatives of sitting are not as simple as counting time spent doing it. What one does while sitting is important too. And it’s here the questions about reflexology enter the picture.

According to the study, “Fidgeting is typically defined as involving small movements, especially of the hands and feet, often through nervousness, restlessness, or impatience. … The current results suggest that more complex movements of the hands and feet may be important to measure, in addition to level of physical activity (sitting time).”

The study found women who fidgeted more while sitting lived longer. Among the women in the low fidgeting group, sitting more than 7 hours a day was associated with an increased mortality risk of 30%. “Among women in the high fidgeting group, sitting for 5–6 hours/day … was associated with decreased mortality risk. … Fidgeting may reduce the risk of all-cause mortality associated with excessive sitting time.”

Previous research suggests why fidgeting may be beneficial. Fidgeting expends more calories than sitting still—118 calories an hour versus 80. Calorie consumption is linked to metabolism with more calories indicating more demand on metabolism. Research results showing sitting while reading or using a computer is less impactful on metabolism. It could be the benefit of intellectual stimulation while sitting.

So, where does reflexology fit into such concepts? Reflexology work whether applied to another or oneself includes complex hand movements of technique application. There’s mental mastery of techniques application appropriate to the specific part of the foot or hand and health concern. Then there’s assessment of what’s under thumb or fingers as one works as well as linking techniques in a coherent whole session.

The bottom line? Reflexology is good for you. Keep those hands moving.

Don't go to Mars with NASA!!!

NASA Challenge: Space Pioneering – Achieving Earth Independence

**************************************************************************************************************
Okay so the challenge was how to achieve independence from Earth for Mars colonists. I didn't expect to win but I was taken back by their response. Here is my response to their response. The response i got back was a form letter. Blah blah blah!!!

So no, I would not go to Mars with people with this point of view. Here is my proposal!
**************************************************************************************************************

My concept of virtual reality for the feet was rejected for the following reason.

"While this concept may be useful for mitigating some of the effects of microgravity, it is unclear if it has any effect on other parts of the body besides the feet."

What drives me crazy is that it is clear that pressure to the feet have a profound effect on other parts of the body.

Your belief if I am correct is that the feet are isolated from other parts of the body and not truly integrated with the systems of the body like the nervous system.

So what you are saying is that pressure to the feet (proprioception) has no other effect on other parts of the body like the vestibular apparatus, the postural muscles, the internal organs ( fuel and oxygen to make locomotion possible) and the brain. 

Am I correct that this is what the Seeker believes? In other words the feet play a very limited role in the nervous system kind of like wheels on a cart. 

The feet are inert and not really interactive with the locomotive system or survival mechanism or metabolism or even as a contributor to human thought.

 Also that pressure to the feet doesn't cause an increase in blood flow to the brain. Walking is not really necessary for blood perfusion to the brain. 

If you don't stimulate the proprioception in the feet you may face the cascading effects of metabolic disorders such as heart problems, lung problems, Alzheimer's, cognitive decline, diabetes and autoimmune disorders. How will you treat these on Mars? 

Furthermore a lack of stimulation to the feet mean a lack of tone in the postural muscles. Musclo-skeletal problems are sure to follow. Weight gain and waistline expansion are probables. 

I am just puzzled how you can have such a view of proprioception. It is not just microgravity in the space flight to Mars but also the diminished gravity on Mars that could cause chaos in a number of systems. 

I am sorry but I have to say I can't understand the grounds on which this proposal was rejected. I don't care about winning. 

Yours truly, 

Kevin Kunz

Here is my proposal. Not perfect because i did it in a hurry but not bad.

Virtual Reality for the Feet

NASA Challenge: Space Pioneering – Achieving Earth Independence

I wrote the following up for this contest. I was rejected for a rather weird reason. Click here to find out why? Don't Go to Mars with NASA

What is virtual reality for the feet?

Virtual reality for the feet is a method for simulating much of the earth bound sensory experience of resisting gravity. Devices embedded with servo- mechanisms can stimulate the proprioceptors in the feet. 

Why virtual reality for the feet?

Pressure to the feet has a myriad of effects. One of the most important functions is to stimulate the postural muscles. The postural muscles have an impact on the organization of the body. Postural muscle stimulation on the metabolic system and the tone of the musclo-`skeletal system. Further the impact extends to mental functions such as depression..

How could you achieve virtual reality for the feet?

Simple pressure to the feet could be achieved in a number of ways. Changeable shoe beds is the simplest way. Simply insert them into the boots.  Pressure enhancers could take the pressure from the sole of the shoe and amplify the signal into the sole of the foot. Both these techniques have their drawbacks. 

Or you can embed servo-mechanisms in the inside of the colonist's boot to apply light patterns of pressure to sole of the foot.This is the method I favor. Although more of a technical challenge it affords you greater flexibility in what could be provided to the colonists. 

When would you use virtual reality?

I can see using VR for the feet during the waking hours. It could be that a lessened amount of pressure is used during the sleep cycle. 

VR of the feet could be used on the long space flight as well as once on Mars.

Who would employ virtual reality for the feet?

The colonist would manage the VR for the feet. However, it could be setup for remote monitoring and control. There could be remote commands to stimulate the colonists if they needed it. Ot it could even be used to perform actions like revival. 

Note: These are attempts to answer questions from NASA.

How does humanity facilitate, enable, and incentivize the establishment of a second home on Mars?

Health is a major factor in any space colony. Knowing that steps have been taken to maintain the health of the colonists would help recruitment. improve the health of the colonist and may be a way to hack into the nervous system to solve various health problems.

Weightlessness and reduced gravitational fields can lead to bone loss and muscle destruction.  The loss of proprioceptive senses can lead to disorientation and perhaps certain psychological states such as anxiety. 

Physical Issues of Space Colonization

The space flight to Mars will take 260 days during that time the colonists will experience zero gravity and the detrimental effects arising from that environment. Add to that the fact that that the fact that the gravity on Mars is only about 38% of the surface gravity on Earth.   

The neural network of the body is profoundly impacted by the lack of weight bearing activities of standing, walking and moving while here on earth. The bedridden and wheel chair bound experience muscle weakness and bone loss.

Recent research on earth bound prolonged sitting has found the serious health effects of not weight bearing on frequent enough intervals. The impact on metabolic functions can lead to serious disorders such as diabetes, heart/lung and even Alzheimers as  examples. 

Could being in a zero gravity or reduced gravity environment lead to effects similar to the effects of prolonged sitting or uninterrupted sitting? It is hard to tell since the longest time an  astronaut was 437 days. A mission to Mars would entail a lot more time.

But the lack of stimulation to the postural muscles on an extended stay on Mars may be similar. A whole array of metabolic problems could  arise with an extended stay of Mars. 

However the differences could be to the musclo-skeletal system. While distortions to the earth bound prolonged sitter is complicated by gravity effecting their muscles the Mars colonists may be different issues. Still complicated by lack of full earth-like weight bearing muscles and bones could be distorted.   

Cognitive decline is associated with prolonged sitting. This could be a potentially dangerous situation on a space colony. 

What if there was a way to simulate locomotive activities thrby triggering the postural muscles which would reset the metabolic system, stimulating cognitive abilities, relieving some of the strains experienced by the musclo-skeletal system and building ground awareness for physical and psychological purposes. 

The bottom of the feet are a potential portal to access the nervous system. By applying the proprioceptive signals to the feet there could  be a way to simulate the actions of the postural muscles in an earth environment. 

Boots containing servomechanisms tuned to the locomotive needs of the colonists could be a way to deliver much needed sensory input. Pressure to the bottom of the feet can be programmed in a variety of ways to simulate the weight bearing of standing, walking or other movement patterns. 

Programs

Standing simulation for space flight

Increased standing sensory input in a diminished environment like Mars. 

Walking simulation in space.

Enhanced walking on the surface of Mars. 

Movement simulation during space flight.

Movement enhancements once on Mars. 

Relaxation modules.

Healing modules.

Virtual reality for the feet means that basic metabolic, musculo-skeletal and cognitive abilities can be addressed by simulating the proprioceptive messages that are routinely received in the everyday activities of walking, standing and other movements. 

It would facilitate preventative health measures that would protect the colonists from the serious consequences of the travel to Mars in zero-gravity. And it would it would address the issues arising from a diminished gravity environment. 

Keeping the body toned by stimulating the postural muscles would enable the colonists to function in a better fashion and keep their body's toned up.

How do we become and maintain Earth independence while living away from Earth?

Health is a critical element in living independently from the earth. The effects of zero gravity on the human body is well known. On Earth the devastating effects of prolonged sitting on our metabolism increases the risk of metabolic disorders such as diabetes. If you could even sent a supply of insulin with a crew of 4-6 crew members how long would a supply last. And since the onset of diabetes is an ongoing problem prevention seems to be key. 

And moving on to muscle-skeletal problems from a lack of tone would the colonists face greater challenges from not being able to perform the tasks necessary for survival. We need a system that can recreate the locomotive function of walking and moving in a field of gravity. 

How do we shape NASA’s human exploration program to minimize what we must bring with us and maximize the value and utility of what we bring, and augment it with what is already there?

There is some gravity on Mars. But what is missing is the demands of gravity on the locomotive system. If NASA would value the human foot and it's interplay with other bodily systems such as the the internal organs and the organs of balance it would make it feasible to establish a colony on Mars. The lack of proprioceptive signals and the cascading effects that will ensue may not be offset by a space ship full of pharmaceuticals. Stimulation of the foot triggers effects throughout the locomotive system. It may be more cost effective and feasible to create virtual  reality for the feet. It could simulate ground awareness and weight bearing with simple techniques. 

What specific capabilities and operations need to be developed, and how can specific natural resources on Mars be used to achieve true Earth independence?

Virtual reality for the feet would require programming of servo mechanisms that would simulate walking and other weight bearing activities, these servo mechanisms would be embedded in the boot. Pressure to the bottom of the feet could be patterned to trigger the maximum effect on the postural muscles and the vestibular apparatus even when the colonist wasn't upright. 

What should be put in place so that this initial foothold can thrive, instead of just surviving? 

If you expand on the initial thought that pressure to the bottom of the feet is critical to the colonist's health then creating many forms of sub stainable technology could be developed. A boot for instance that by applying pressure in Mars's gravity amps up the pressure signal could be developed. 

Just like a space suit is monitored for pressurization so to could the tone of the body be monitor for vagal tone by measuring heart rate variability. It would also be important to monitor vagal tone in order to keep inflammation in check. 

So a heart rate variability monitor would be essential to see proper tone is maintained. 

How do can we make sure that the sustainable systems/capabilities that we choose to implement will really provide the best holistic approach to Earth independence?

Testing the capabilities of a virtual reality system for the feet would be fairly straight forward. C-reactive protein tests and heart rate variability tests would show if the technologies developed are effective. 

What do you need to bring with you?

Boots that are programmable, or manually developed. Testing equipment such as a heart rate variability monitor ( i assume this would all ready by apart of the equipment on board) C-reactive protein test kits. 

What will be established once you get there?What will be established once you get there?

Testing stations and protocols for stimulating the proprioceptors.

How does it operate and how can it be tested now?

The basic principal is to apply the proprioceptive signal to the plantar aspect of the foot. It could be a pattern that simulates standing or walking. Or it could be a random pattern that would simulate the random patterns encountered in rough terrain. 

A series of servo mechanisms under the footbed of the shoe would be electronically triggered causing an increase of a slight pressure to the sole of the foot. 

Certain highly innervated areas such as the metatarso-phalangeal joint could be targeted for special attention. This area of the foot is activated in the beginning of the toe off stage in the end of the stance phase in walking. It communicates through the brain with the opposite foot to coordinate the swing phase with the stance phase. 

 Directional areas on the foot such as the cuboid bone which has also been referred to as the variable sensor can be target with movement sequences that simulate moving across rough terrain. This bone and it's movement has a global effect on the foot. It effects the subtalar joint which is involved in maintaining an upright position in human stance. It also effects the mid-tarsal joint  and the mid-foot joint which adjusts for terrain.  

If you want something a little further out you could have programs to perform revival, recovery from stroke, spinal cord injuries and other disorders. 

You could test it here on earth. Metabolic functions could be monitored to see the impact of plantar stimulation. Functional MRI's could be used to show the impact of various parts of the brain. Of interest would be the prefrontal cortex and the insular cortex. 

Why is it sustainable? Is there recycle, reuse? How long will it last?

It is sustainable because the technology is straight forward and should be simple to repair.

How is it intertwined with other systems/capabilities?

It would be integrated into other life support systems. 

How will it be maintained? 

It would require some electronics and repair of the servo units. 

Kevin Kunz

http://bit.ly/1zbxHB5

http://tinyurl.com/un-sit-your-life

Spying for Lying: What The Feet And Legs Say About Liars

Spying for Lying: What The Feet And Legs Say About Liars: "Our feet and legs, often neglected in the study of body language, transmit a lot of valuable information about what we are sensing, thinking, and feeling."

Pretty interesting stuff.


Kevin Kunz

http://www.reflexology-research.com 

http://www.dk.com/reflexology 

Tweet me @twitter.com/footreflexology

Facebook www.facebook.com/kevin.kunz

Fast Ways to Loosen Feet- Tip #1

© 1984 Kunz& Kunz 
Let's face it. Because of shoes and hard surfaces our feet are way over torqued. But it is really simple to loosen feet quickly. 

Simply work the edge of the heel particularly the medial or inside of the heel. 

If you are a practitioner simply use thumb- walking to cover the area throughly. First rotate the foot to get a sense of the tension level. Next apply the thumb walking technique. Then test again.

 When you have the foot good and loose get them up and walking to feel the difference between the two feet. If it went well they should be impressed. Repeat the procedure on the second foot. See if they match. 

If you are doing self help on the tailbone area a golf ball can by quite handy. Roll the golf ball along the rim of the heel. Repeat on the opposite foot. 

Some people swear by using a "super-ball" They feel the slight give can be quite effective in working the tailbone area. 

I will have other tips to loosen the foot. But did you have success with this technique?

Kevin Kunz

http://www.reflexology-research.com 

http://www.dk.com/reflexology 

http://www.facebook.com/kevin.kunz 

twitter me @footreflexology