Final answer:
Modern living conditions, such as wearing shoes and walking on flat surfaces, have led to underutilization of the foot's muscles and their shock-absorbing capacities, particularly in the arches of the foot, which play a key role in distributing body weight and reducing stress on the lower limbs.
Step-by-step explanation:
The advent of 'modern living' has brought changes in the way our feet interact with the environment. Due to wearing shoes and walking on flat surfaces, our feet no longer utilize all of the muscles of the foot, leading to much of their potential for shock absorption and support being underused. Arches of the foot play a vital role in absorbing the pressures of body weight during activities such as walking, running, or jumping. When the foot contacts the ground, it experiences a force that can be up to 2.5 times your body weight. The foot's ability to flatten and rebound its arches contributes to shock absorption and provides 'spring' to each step.
The shock-absorbing mechanisms are essential for distributing body weight across the foot and reducing the stress to the lower limbs. The intrinsic muscles of the foot, along with the plantar aponeurosis, provide support to the foot's arch and contribute to toe movements. However, modern living conditions don't always require the full range of foot muscle activation, possibly leading to weakened foot muscles over time.