PREDICTING FOOT PROGRESSION ANGLE DURING GAIT USING TWO CLINICAL MEASURES IN HEALTHY ADULTS, A PRELIMINARY STUDY.
BACKGROUND
The foot progression angle (FPA) is related to the transverse plane rotation of the lower extremities and associated with many lower extremity conditions.


OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to examine how two commonly used clinical measures, tibio-fibular torsion (TF) and hip rotation, can be used to predict FPA during gait in healthy adults.


METHODS
Cross-sectional study design.


METHODS
Passive hip internal and external rotation ranges of motion and TF torsion were measured with a 12-inch goniometer while the FPA (degree of toe-in/out) was measured with the GAITRite during midstance in sixty participants. The data was analyzed using a multiple regression model.


RESULTS
Hip ER was not significant and was therefore excluded from the final model. The final model included passive hip IR and TF torsion (F = 19.64; p < .001; multiple R(2) = .41; adjusted R(2) = .39). Simple binary correlations showed that hip IR had a moderate negative correlation (r = -.40) with FPA (the greater the hip IR, the greater the in-toeing) while TF torsion had a positive correlation (r = .39) with FPA (the greater the external TF torsion. the greater the out-toeing).


CONCLUSIONS
Greater amount of passive hip IR predicts in-toeing while greater TF torsion predicts out-toeing of the foot during midstance phase of gait.


METHODS
Level 2.
Maryville University, St. Louis, MO, USA.
Michael T
MT
Cibulka
Maryville University, St. Louis, MO, USA.
Kyle
K
Winters
Maryville University, St. Louis, MO, USA.
Teri
T
Kampwerth
Maryville University, St. Louis, MO, USA.
Blake
B
McAfee
Maryville University, St. Louis, MO, USA.
Lisa
L
Payne
Maryville University, St. Louis, MO, USA.
Tara
T
Roeckenhaus
Maryville University, St. Louis, MO, USA.
Sandy A
SA
Ross
TF torsion; and foot progression angle; hip rotation