Article

The biomechanical mechanisms that link foot structure to injuries of the
musculoskeletal system during gait are not well understood. This study had two
parts. The purpose of part one was to determine the relation between clinical
rearfoot and forefoot angles and foot angles as they make contact with the
ground. The purpose of part two was to determine the effects of large vs.
moderate values of both forefoot and rearfoot inversion angles at foot contact on
foot kinematics. Clinical foot angle, the relationship between the foot and an
axis extrinsically defined relative to the ground, was calculated from digital
photographs taken in a prone position. During three speeds of over-ground
walking, we measured frontal plane rearfoot and forefoot angle relative to the
ground at foot contact, and the following stance phase kinematic measures:
amplitude of rearfoot and forefoot eversion, duration of rearfoot and forefoot
eversion, and duration between heel-off and onset of rearfoot and forefoot
inversion. We found that the clinical forefoot angle predicted the forefoot angle
at foot contact. Individuals with a large inversion forefoot angle at contact
also had greater amplitude of forefoot eversion and everted longer during stance.
We discuss the possible mechanisms for the increased risk of injury to the hip
reported for individuals that have a large clinical forefoot angle in non-weight
bearing. Equally important is the finding that rearfoot angle at contact did not
predict the motions of the rearfoot or forefoot during stance.
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Langue : ANGLAIS