title: Forefoot deformation during stance: does the forefoot collapse during loading?
abstract: This study presents a specific description of forefoot deformation during the stance phase of normal human walking based on the combined analysis of pressure and three-dimensional optoelectronic measurements. Forefoot deformation is measured in forty healthy subjects using (1) a six-camera motion capture system (sampled at 250 Hz) tracking five reflective skin markers attached to the forefoot, (2) a pressure platform (sampled at 500 Hz) and (3) a forceplate (sampled at 1250 Hz). Forefoot deformation is characterized by the forefoot width, the mediolateral metatarsal arch height and the plantar pressure under the metatarsal heads. Using this setup, a typical pattern of forefoot motion is described during stance phase: From a flexible, compliant configuration at the beginning of stance phase, characterized by a decrease in mediolateral metatarsal arch height and a controlled increase in forefoot width, the forefoot turns into a stable configuration during midstance. Subsequently, the increase in mediolateral arch height and the decrease in forefoot width describe the transformation into a tight configuration during final stance. This transfer from a compliant into a rigid configuration through stance phase rejects the idea of the forefoot as a collapsing structure under increased loading.
authors: Department of Experimental Anatomy, Faculty of Physical Education and Physiotherapy, Research Unit Advanced Rehabilitation Technology and Science (ARTS), Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussel, Belgium; Department of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation Sciences, Faculty of Physical Education and Physiotherapy, Research Unit Advanced Rehabilitation Technology and Science (ARTS), Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussel, Belgium. Electronic address: sduerinc@vub.ac.be.
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Duerinck
authors: F
authors: F
authors: Hagman
authors: I
authors: I
authors: Jonkers
authors: P
authors: P
authors: Van Roy
authors: P
authors: P
authors: Vaes
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D005260:Female; D005545:Forefoot, Human / Q000502:physiology*; D005684:Gait / Q000502:physiology*; D064368:Healthy Volunteers; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011312:Pressure; D016138:Walking / Q000502:physiology*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Deformation; Forefoot; Gait; Kinematics; Plantar pressure