This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Munuera, P. V. Articles by Lafuente, G. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Munuera, P. V. Articles by Lafuente, G.

Effects of Rearfoot-Controlling Orthotic Treatment on Dorsiflexion of the Hallux in Feet with Abnormal Subtalar Pronation

A Preliminary Report

^* Department of Podiatry, School of Health Sciences, University of Seville, Seville, Spain.

Corresponding author: Pedro V. Munuera, DipPod, Centro Docente de Fisioterapia y Podología, Escuela Universitaria de Ciencias de la Salud, C/ Avicena, s/n 41009 Seville, Spain.

Abstract

The aim of this study was to determine whether the treatment of abnormal subtalar pronation restores functional (as opposed to structural) limited dorsiflexion of the first metatarsophalangeal joint (functional hallux limitus). We studied 16 feet of eight individuals with abnormal subtalar pronation. Orthoses were made for all of the feet, and hallux dorsiflexion was measured during weightbearing. Each patient was unshod without the orthosis, unshod with the orthosis fitted on the same day, and unshod with the orthosis fitted approximately 5 months later. The results suggest that in functional hallux limitus caused by abnormal subtalar pronation, hallux dorsiflexion will gradually be restored by the use of foot orthoses to control the abnormal subtalar pronation. (J Am Podiatr Med Assoc 96(4): 283–289, 2006)