Relationship between static foot posture and foot mobility.
BACKGROUND
It is not uncommon for a person's foot posture and/or mobility to be assessed during a clinical examination. The exact relationship, however, between static posture and mobility is not known.


OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to determine the degree of association between static foot posture and mobility.


METHODS
The static foot posture and foot mobility of 203 healthy individuals was assessed and then analyzed to determine if low arched or "pronated" feet are more mobile than high arched or "supinated" feet.


RESULTS
The study demonstrated that those individuals with a lower standing dorsal arch height and/or a wider standing midfoot width had greater mobility in their foot. In addition, those individuals with higher Foot Posture Index (FPI) values demonstrated greater mobility and those with lower FPI values demonstrated less mobility. Finally, the amount of foot mobility that an individual has can be predicted reasonably well using either a 3 or 4 variable linear regression model.


CONCLUSIONS
Because of the relationship between static foot posture and mobility, it is recommended that both be assessed as part of a comprehensive evaluation of a individual with foot problems.
The Laboratory for Foot and Ankle Research, Department of Physical Therapy and Athletic Training, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ 86011, USA.
Mark W
MW
Cornwall
School of Physical Therapy, Regis University, Denver, CO 80221, USA.
Thomas G
TG
McPoil
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