With regard to measuring toe flexor strength I believe it is important to considered measuring toe strength with the toes in a dorsiflexed ,toe off like position . This is particular true if toe strength is to be looked at in the context of falls prevention .
Members do not see these Ads. Sign Up.
The following method ,which would use a pressure mat/force plate combination to measure generated forces ,may allow this type of measurement .
Use of the system would require the direction of a suitably qualified examiner for accuracy and safety and it would not be attempted by an individual at home or injury may result .
PRESSURE MAT / FORCE PLATE SYSTEM
INTRINSIC MEASUREMENT (position 1)
The method would simply involve the subject standing with one arm out stretched touching a wall and with the reference foot in an late stance position on the pressure mat /force plate so that the ankle is flexed but the toes dorsiflexed .The subject would then be asked to push forwards against the arm/wall by flexing the rear toes . This might give a more accurate idea of the strength of the intrinsics .
The stance would also involve having the shoulder of the extended arm positioned behind the forward foot placement .
For clarity , the front foot would be about 2 feet in front of the rear or reference foot .The method might give the most functionally accurate idea of intrinsic toe strength particularly as it relates to the establishment of a stable position after a balance perturbation such as a trip .
EXTRINSIC MEASUREMENT (position 2)
The extrinsic toe flexors are thought by some to function isometrically during gait so this is probably the best way to measure there capacity .
Again all that is required is the mat/plate and a wall . The idea is to measure the force that can be applied THROUGH the toes and not applied BY the toes .
The test subject stands with the test foot on the pressure mat but now with there back to a wall . The heel of the test foot would be about 6 inches from the base of the wall . The non test foot is moved fowards about a 40 cm and makes light contact with the ground to avoid loss of balance . With their lower back touching the wall the subject now leans forwards at the waist till the COG is just over the MTFI of the test foot (. The forward foot keeps this stable ) . The subject is asked to stay in a forward lean but drive through their test foot toes to push there lower back against the wall as hard as possible .
The result would give a good Idea of the max force that could be exerted THROUGH the toes to avoid forward progression of the COG over them and hence of the combined intrinsic and extrinsic toe strength .
RATIONAL BEHIND THE POSITIONS
The rational of the positions is that in a trip situation position 2 represents the foot acting as a lever arm against which the muscles of the body can act to slow the forward progression of the COM and also allow the contralateral hip to slow in absolute terms but accelerate relative to the contact side allowing any necessary additional strides to be taken in time to avoid a fall .
Once forward progression of COM has been stopped the COM will be either directly over the blocking or forward foot but will most likely be behind this foot . This means that the COM will begin to move backwards and inwards unless the posterior leg can stop this movement and achieve equilibrium . This is were the 1 position is relevant .
MEASUREMENT DEVICE
A pressure mat system would be placed on top of a force plate and secured to it via, for example ,a temporary glue . This would allow both vertical and horizontal force components to be measured and collated .
With regard to the above it might also be reasonably assumed that if the two named measuring position are valid then these would also be valid isometric strengthening positions .
Any thoughts ?
Gerry
DISCLAIMER -- As far as I am aware the measurement and strengthening positions mentioned in the text above are untested and it is important to note that I am not recommending their use but merely putting them up for discussion .
The author accepts no liability for any injury resulting from using the positions mentioned in the above text.
Unsupervised use of the said positions may result in injury .
Tags:
<
Different opinions on posterior tibial tendon dysfunction assessment
|
Effects of different midsole densities under the forefoot
>
<
Different opinions on posterior tibial tendon dysfunction assessment
|
Effects of different midsole densities under the forefoot
>
Loading...
- Similar Threads - Toe flexor strength
-
- Replies:
- 2
- Views:
- 1,508
-
- Replies:
- 2
- Views:
- 3,468
-
- Replies:
- 11
- Views:
- 14,294
-
- Replies:
- 2
- Views:
- 5,225
-
- Replies:
- 4
- Views:
- 5,137
-
- Replies:
- 0
- Views:
- 2,077
-
- Replies:
- 1
- Views:
- 3,043