Role of the metatarsophalangeal (MTP) joints of the foot in level walking.
This study investigates the motion and function of the metatarsophalangeal joints of the foot in customary, slow, fast and longer stride styles of level walking. Electromyograms of the tibialis posterior (TP), extensor hallucis longus (EHL), extensor digitorum longus (EDL), flexor hallucis longus (FHL), flexor digitorum longus (FDL), tibialis anterior (TA), gastrocnemius (TS) and peroneous longus (PL) and ground reaction forces, foot switch signals and electrogoniometers of the ankle and metatarsophalangeal (MTP) joints were recorded simultaneously. In customary and fast walking, the role of the long toe flexors is to act as an aid and they also act as roll off agents maintaining floor contact. In slow walking styles the function of the toes is not to exert propulsion forces but stabilizing forces. In longer stride walking it is suggested that the toes are required to exert propulsion forces. It is important to research multilaterally the causal relation of many parameters.
D000328:Adult; D004576:Electromyography; D005684:Gait; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008683:Metatarsophalangeal Joint / Q000502:physiology*; D008684:Metatarsus / Q000502:physiology; D009038:Motion; D014033:Toe Joint / Q000502:physiology*; D014034:Toes / Q000502:physiology