Editing Plantigrade (section)

==Evolution==
The primary advantages of a plantigrade foot are stability and weight-bearing ability; plantigrade feet have the largest surface area. The primary disadvantage of a plantigrade foot is speed. With more bones and joints in the foot, the leg is both shorter and heavier at the far end, which makes it difficult to move rapidly.

In humans and other great apes, another possible advantage of a plantigrade foot is that it may enhance fighting performance by providing a more powerful stance for striking and grappling.<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Carrier|first1=David R|last2=Cunningham|first2=Christopher|title=The effect of foot posture on capacity to apply free moments to the ground: implications for fighting performance in great apes|journal=Biology Open|date=15 February 2017|volume=6|issue=2|pages=269–277|doi=10.1242/bio.022640|pmc=5312108|pmid=28202470}}</ref>

Plantigrade foot occurs normally in humans in static postures of [[standing]] and [[sitting]]. It should also occur normally in [[gait]] (walking). [[Hypertonia|Hypertonicity]], [[spasticity]], [[clonus]], limited range of motion, abnormal flexion neural pattern, and a plantar flexor (calf) muscle contracture, as well as some forms of [[footwear]] such as [[high heeled shoes]] may contribute to an individual only standing and/or walking on their toes. It would be evident by the observable heel rise.