Welcome to the Podiatry Arena forums, for communication between foot health professionals about podiatry and related topics.
You are currently viewing our podiatry forum as a guest which gives you limited access to view all podiatry discussions and access our other features. By joining our free global community of Podiatrists and other interested foot health care professionals you will have access to post podiatry topics (answer and ask questions), communicate privately with other members (PM), upload content, view attachments, receive a weekly email update of new discussions, earn CPD points and access many other special features. Registered users do not get displayed the advertisments in posted messages. Registration is fast, simple and absolutely free so please, join our global Podiatry community today!
If you have any problems with the registration process or your account login, please contact contact us.
Subtalar neutral position as an offset for a kinematic model of the foot during walking
Jeff R. Houck, Josh M. Tome, Deborah A. Nawoczenski Gait and Posture (Article in Press)
Quote:
The lack of a common reference position when defining foot postures may underestimate the ability to differentiate foot function in subjects with pathology. The effect of using the subtalar neutral (STN) position as an offset for both rearfoot and forefoot through comparison of the kinematic walking patterns of subjects classified as normal (n=7) and abnormally pronated (n=14) foot postures was completed. An Optotrak™ Motion Analysis System (Northern Digital, Inc.) integrated with Motion Monitor Software™ (Innovative Sports, Inc.) was used to track three-dimensional movement of the leg, rearfoot and first metatarsal segments. Intrarater reliability of positioning the foot into STN using clinical guidelines was determined for a single rater for 21 subjects. Walking data were subsequently compared before and after an offset was applied to the rearfoot and first metatarsal segments. Repeated measures of foot positioning found the STN position to be highly repeatable (intraclass correlation coefficients>0.9), with peak errors ranging from 1.9° to 4.3°. Utilizing STN as the offset resulted in a significant increase in rearfoot eversion (p=0.019) during early stance, and greater first metatarsal dorsiflexion (p<0.007) across stance in the pronated foot groups that was not observed prior to applying the offset. When applied to subjects with differing foot postures, the selection of a common reference position that is both clinically appropriate and reliable may distinguish kinematic patterns during walking that are consistent with theories of abnormal pronation.