Foot pronation during walking is associated to the mechanical resistance of the midfoot joint

NewsBot · Feb 13, 2019

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Foot pronation during walking is associated to the mechanical resistance of the midfoot joint complex
Raphael B.O.GomesThales R.SouzaBruno D.C.PaesFabrício A.MagalhãesBruna A.GontijoSérgio T.FonsecaJuliana M.OcarinoRenan A.Resende
Gait & Posture; Available online 10 February 2019

Highlights
•Smaller midfoot resistance torque is related to greater forefoot inversion in gait
•Smaller midfoot resistance torque is associated to greater forefoot dorsiflexion
•Smaller midfoot resistance torque is associated to greater rearfoot eversion
•Midfoot stiffiness is not associated to forefoot and rearfoot pronation during gait
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Background
The demonstration of the relationship between midfoot passive mechanical resistance and foot pronation during gait may guide the development of assessment and intervention methods to modify foot motion during gait and to alter midfoot passive mechanical resistance.

Research question
Is foot pronation during the stance phase of gait related to the midfoot passive mechanical resistance to inversion?

Methods
The resistance torque and stiffness provided by midfoot soft tissues of 33 participants (21 females and 12 males) with average of 26.21 years were measured. In addition, the participants’ forefoot and rearfoot kinematic data during the stance phase of gait were collected with the Qualisys System (Oqus 7+). Correlation Coefficients were calculated to test the association between kinematic variables representing pronation (forefoot-rearfoot inversion, forefoot-rearfoot dorsiflexion and rearfoot-shank eversion) and maximum resistance torque and maximum stiffness of the midfoot with α = 0.05.

Results
Reduced maximum midfoot resistance torque was moderately associated with increased forefoot-rearfoot inversion peak (p = 0.029; r = 0.38), with forefoot-rearfoot dorsiflexion peak (p = 0.048; r=-0.35) and with rearfoot-shank eversion peak (p = 0.008; r=-0.45). Maximum midfoot stiffness was not associated to foot pronation.

Significance
The smaller the midfoot resistance torque, the greater the forefoot-rearfoot inversion and dorsiflexion peaks and the rearfoot-shank eversion peak during gait. The findings suggest the existence of a relationship between foot pronation and midfoot passive mechanical resistance. Thus, changes in midfoot passive mechanical resistance may affect foot pronation during gait.
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NewsBot · Feb 22, 2021

Midfoot passive stiffness affects foot and ankle kinematics and kinetics during the propulsive phase of walking
Fabrício AnicioMagalhãesaSérgio TeixeiraFonsecaaVanessa LaraAraújoaRenato GuilhermeTredebLílian MarquesOliveiraaCamila Gomes Miranda eCastoraRafael ZambelliPintoaThales RezendeSouzaa
Journal of Biomechanics; Volume 119, 15 April 2021, 110328

The midfoot joint complex (MFJC) is related to the mechanics and efficiency of the walking propulsive phase and low midfoot passive stiffness may require compensatory foot and ankle joint moments to avoid excessive pronation and inefficient propulsion. This study aimed to investigate the kinematics and kinetics of the MFJC and ankle during the propulsive phase of walking in subjects with larger and smaller midfoot passive stiffness. MFJC passive stiffness of 20 healthy adult participants, and the kinematics and kinetics of the MFJC (forefoot-rearfoot) and ankle (rearfoot-shank) during the stance phase of walking were measured. The participants were divided equally into two groups according to the MFJC passive stiffness. Ranges of motion (ROM) and mean joint moments were computed for the late stance. Independent t-tests (α = 0.05) revealed that subjects with lower midfoot passive stiffness showed an increased MFJC sagittal ROM (flattened longitudinal arch) (p = 0.002), increased ankle frontal ROM (more everted positions) (p = 0.002), increased MFJC frontal ROM (more inverted positions) (p = 0.019), as well as a tendency for larger ankle sagittal ROM (p = 0.056). They also showed increased MFJC (p = 0.021) and ankle (p = 0.018) moments in the sagittal plane, increased MFJC moment in the frontal plane (p = 0.047) and a tendency for a predominant ankle moment in the frontal (p = 0.058). Foot and ankle joint moments are possible strategies to reduce pronation and improve propulsion, but not sufficient to prevent the altered kinematics related to low midfoot stiffness. Therefore, midfoot passive stiffness is critical for foot and ankle kinematics and kinetics during walking propulsive phase and is a potential target of interventions.
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NewsBot · Feb 22, 2021

Effects of medial longitudinal arch flexibility on propulsion kinetics during drop vertical jumps
Corey D.GrozierabGretchen K.CagleaLaurenPantoneaKyle B.RankaSamuel J.WilsoncJohn R.HarrydSamanthaSealseJeffrey D.Simpsona
Journal of Biomechanics; Volume 118, 30 March 2021, 110322

This study examined the effects of medial longitudinal arch (MLA) flexibility on kinetics during the eccentric and concentric subphases of a drop vertical jump (DVJ). Physically active adults with flexible (n = 16) and stiff (n = 16) MLA completed DVJs onto a force platform from a height of 30 cm. Eccentric and concentric subphases of the DVJ were identified from the vertical ground reaction force (GRF) data. Jump height, ground contact time, reactive strength index (RSI), vertical center-of-mass depth, vertical stiffness and time of the eccentric and concentric subphases were evaluated. Amortization force, peak vertical GRF and vertical impulse were also obtained for the eccentric and concentric subphases of the DVJ. Dependent variables were compared between groups using independent samples t-tests (p < 0.05). Significantly greater vertical stiffness (p = 0.048; ES = 0.63) was found in the stiff arch group (−173.91 ± 99.73 N/kg/m) compared to the flexible arch group (−122.95 ± 63.42 N/kg/m). A moderate-magnitude difference (ES = 0.58) was observed for RSI between flexible (0.89 ± 0.39) and stiff arch (1.20 ± 0.70) groups, but was not significant (p = 0.063). The active and passive structures supporting the MLA may be used differently to achieve similar vertical jump height during a DVJ. Additional research is warranted to further understand the contributions of MLA flexibility to jumping performance.
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NewsBot · Aug 31, 2021

Kinematic instability in the joints of flatfoot subjects during walking: A biplanar fluoroscopic study
Cong-Bo Phan et al
J Biomech. 2021 Aug 10

Abnormal foot kinematics is observed in flatfoot subjects with postural foot deformity. We aimed to investigate joint instability in flatfoot subjects by analyzing the abnormal rotational position and speed of their joints while walking. Five flatfoot subjects participated in our study. Three-dimensional motions of the tibia, talus, calcaneus, navicular, and cuboid were obtained during walking using the biplanar fluoroscopic motion analyses. An anatomical coordinate system was established for each bone. The rotations and ranges of motion (ROMs) of the joints from heel-strike to toe-off were quantified. The relative movements on the articular surfaces were quantified by surface relative velocity vector analysis. The data from flat foot subjects were compared with the data from normal foot subjects in previous studies. The average relative speed on the articular surface of the tibiotalar, subtalar, and calcaneocuboid joints for the flatfoot subjects was significantly higher (p < 0.05) than that for the normal foot subjects. The flatfoot subjects exhibited increased movements toward plantar flexion in the tibiotalar joint, and eversion and external rotations in the talonavicular joint during the stance phase, compared to the normal subjects (p < 0.01). Furthermore, the flatfoot subjects had a significantly larger ROM along with the inversion/eversion rotations (5.6 ± 1.8° vs. 10.7 ± 4.0°) and internal/external rotations (7.1 ± 1.5° vs. 10.5 ± 3.5°) in the tibiotalar joint. The flatfoot subjects demonstrated abnormal kinematics and larger joint movements in multiple joints during the mid-stance and terminal stance phases of walking. This demonstrates their high instability levels.
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