Development of a clinically useful multi‐segment kinetic foot model

Abstract

AbstractBackgroundTraditionally, gait analysis studies record the foot as a single rigid segment, leaving movements and loads within the foot undetected. In addition, very few data of multi‐segment foot kinetics have been represented in the literature due to measurement and equipment limitations. As a result, this study aims to develop a novel multi‐segment kinetic foot model that is clinically feasible and enables both kinematic and kinetic analysis of large patient groups.ResultsOutcome measurements include rotation angles of intersegmental dorsi/plantar flexion, inversion/eversion, and internal/external rotation, joint moments, joint powers and the medial longitudinal arch (MLA) height/length ratio. Repeatability of joint motions was calculated using coefficients of multiple correlation. Most joint motions measured by this foot model showed strong within‐subject reliability (R > 0.7) in healthy adults. Outcome measures were in agreement with other multi‐segment foot models found in the biomechanics literature.ConclusionsThis novel multi‐segment foot model is able to quantify intersegmental foot kinematics and kinetics and can be a useful tool for research and assessments on clinical populations.