Article

A number of in vitro, invasive in vivo, and non-invasive marker based
multi-segment foot models (MSFMs) have reported significant motion in the
articulations distal to the calcaneus during gait. Few studies, however, have
applied a MSFM to the investigation of the effect of foot posture on gait
kinematics. Differences in stance phase kinematics between participants with
low-mobile (LMF) (n=11) versus "typical" (TYPF) (n=11) foot postures were
investigated using a multi-segment medial foot model. Three-dimensional position
and stance phase excursions of four functional articulations (rearfoot complex
[RC], calcaneonavicular complex [CNC], medial forefoot, first metatarsophalangeal
complex) were quantified using an eight optical camera motion analysis system
(Vicon Motus, Vicon Motions Systems, Centennial, CO) and a custom written
software program (Matlab 7.0.1, The MathWorks, Natick, MA), respectively.
Excursions during four subphases of stance phase (loading response, midstance,
terminal stance, pre-swing) at each of the functional articulations were compared
using multivariate analyses of variance (alpha<or=0.05). Results revealed
significantly decreased LMF group CNC abduction excursion (p=0.047) during
midstance. During pre-swing, LMF group RC inversion excursion was significantly
increased (p=0.032) and eversion excursion was significantly decreased (p=0.003)
compared to the TYPF group. When these differences are considered in conjunction
with the kinematic patterns of other foot/leg segments and functional
articulations, the changes may suggest dysfunction of normal leg-calcaneus
coupling and the constrained tarsal mechanism associated with low-mobile foot
postures.

Langue : ANGLAIS