title: Effects of different medial arch support heights on rearfoot kinematics.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Foot orthoses are usually assumed to be effective by optimizing mechanically dynamic rearfoot configuration. However, the effect from a foot orthosis on kinematics that has been demonstrated scientifically has only been marginal. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of different heights in medial arch-supported foot orthoses on rear foot motion during gait.
  
  
  METHODS
  Nineteen asymptomatic runners (36±11years, 180±5cm, 79±10kg; 41±22km/week) participated in the study. Trials were recorded at 3.1 mph (5 km/h) on a treadmill. Athletes walked barefoot and with 4 different not customized medial arch-supported foot orthoses of various arch heights (N:0 mm, M:30 mm, H:35 mm, E:40mm). Six infrared cameras and the `Oxford Foot Model´ were used to capture motion. The average stride in each condition was calculated from 50 gait cycles per condition. Eversion excursion and internal tibia rotation were analyzed. Descriptive statistics included calculating the mean ± SD and 95% CIs. Group differences by condition were analyzed by one factor (foot orthoses) repeated measures ANOVA (α = 0.05).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Eversion excursion revealed the lowest values for N and highest for H (B:4.6°±2.2°; 95% CI [3.1;6.2]/N:4.0°±1.7°; [2.9;5.2]/M:5.2°±2.6°; [3.6;6.8]/H:6.2°±3.3°; [4.0;8.5]/E:5.1°±3.5°; [2.8;7.5]) (p>0.05). Range of internal tibia rotation was lowest with orthosis H and highest with E (B:13.3°±3.2°; 95% CI [11.0;15.6]/N:14.5°±7.2°; [9.2;19.6]/M:13.8°±5.0°; [10.8;16.8]/H:12.3°±4.3°; [9.0;15.6]/E:14.9°±5.0°; [11.5;18.3]) (p>0.05). Differences between conditions were small and the intrasubject variation high.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results indicate that different arch support heights have no systematic effect on eversion excursion or the range of internal tibia rotation and therefore might not exert a crucial influence on rear foot alignment during gait.
authors.affiliation: University outpatient clinic, University of Potsdam, Department of Sports Medicine, Am Neuen Palais 10, Haus 12, Potsdam, Germany.
authors.forename: Gunnar
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Wahmkow
authors.affiliation: University outpatient clinic, University of Potsdam, Department of Sports Medicine, Am Neuen Palais 10, Haus 12, Potsdam, Germany.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cassel
authors.affiliation: University outpatient clinic, University of Potsdam, Department of Sports Medicine, Am Neuen Palais 10, Haus 12, Potsdam, Germany.
authors.forename: Frank
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Mayer
authors.affiliation: University outpatient clinic, University of Potsdam, Department of Sports Medicine, Am Neuen Palais 10, Haus 12, Potsdam, Germany.|Bern University of Applied Sciences, Health, Physiotherapy, Murtenstrasse 10, Bern, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Heiner
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Baur
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D005080:Exercise Test; D005260:Female; D061826:Foot Orthoses; D005684:Gait / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012420:Running / Q000502:physiology; D013977:Tibia / Q000502:physiology*; D014008:Tinea Pedis; D014741:Video Recording; D016474:Weight-Bearing / Q000502:physiology