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The Amount of Rearfoot Motion Used During the Stance Phase of Walking

Linda Dowdy Youberg, PT, MS, MA ^*, Mark W. Cornwall, PhD, PT, CPed , Thomas G. McPoil, PhD, PT, ATC  and Patrick R. Hannon, EdD 

^* United States Navy, Ceiba, Puerto Rico.
Department of Physical Therapy, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff.
Department of Exercise Science and Athletic Training, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff.

Corresponding author: Mark W. Cornwall, PhD, PT, CPed, Department of Physical Therapy, Northern Arizona University, PO Box 15105, Flagstaff, AZ 86011.

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine the proportion of available passive frontal plane rearfoot motion that is used during the stance phase of walking. Data were collected from 40 healthy, asymptomatic volunteer subjects (20 men and 20 women) aged 23 to 44 years. Passive inversion and eversion motion was measured in a nonweightbearing position by manually moving the calcaneus. Dynamic rearfoot motion was referenced to a vertical calcaneus and tibia and was measured using a three-dimensional electromagnetic motion-analysis system. The results indicated that individuals used 68.1% of their available passive eversion range of motion and 13.2% of their available passive inversion range of motion during walking. The clinical implication of individuals’ regularly operating at or near the end point of their available rearfoot eversion range of motion is discussed. (J Am Podiatr Med Assoc 95(4): 376–382, 2005)