Understanding the Windlass Mechanism: The Key to Better Walking and Running

J.D. Denton describes the running mechanics of the foot as ‘a "loose bag of bones" as it flies through the air toward the ground. He writes, ‘During that brief time on the ground, those loose bones, along with the attendant muscles, tendons, and ligaments of the foot (including that all-important plantar fascia) have to organize and transform into a rigid lever to lift you into the next period of flight. That organization is called ‘the windlass effect’”.