Rearfoot

The effects of a 12-week gait retraining program on the adaptation of the medial gastrocnemius (MG) and muscle-tendon unit (MTU) were investigated. 26 runners with a rearfoot strike pattern (RFS) were randomly assigned to one of two groups: gait retraining (GR) or control group (CON). MG ultrasound images, marker positions, and ground reaction forces (GRF) were collected twice during 9 km/h of treadmill running before and after the intervention. Ankle kinetics and the MG and MTU behavior and dynamics were quantified...

This study aimed to investigate the effects of neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) with gastrocnemius (GCM) strength exercise on foot morphology in patients with stroke. Herein, 31 patients with chronic stroke meeting the study criteria were enrolled and divided into two groups; 16 patients were randomized to the gastrocnemius neuromuscular electrical stimulation (GCMNMES) group, and 15 patients to the conventional neuromuscular electrical stimulation (CNMES) group. The GCMNMES group conducted GCM-strengthening exercise with NMES...

Prolonged standing at work is associated with health risks. The appearance of lower-limb and lower-back discomfort is one of the most prevalent factors in prolonged standing workers. The aim of this research was to evaluate the effect of an eight-hour workday on foot pressure and musculoskeletal discomfort in standing workers. Thirty-six assembly-line workers (six women) were recruited to participate in a cross-sectional study to assess foot pressure and surface, foot, knee, and lower-back discomfort before and after a real workday...

BACKGROUND: Chronic ankle instability (CAI) is associated with changes in gait biomechanics which may be related to chronic dysfunction. Traditional statistical models may be limited in their ability to assess the complex 3D movement of the lower extremity during gait. Multivariate analysis of the lower extremity kinematics may reveal unique biomechanical differences associated with CAI. RESEARCH QUESTION: Do patients with CAI differ from healthy controls in their lower extremity biomechanics and GRF when comparing 3D biomechanics? METHODS: Thirty-nine young, active adults participated in this study...

BACKGROUND: Two biomechanical mechanisms for the development of Achilles tendinopathy in runners have been proposed: A whipping mechanism characterized by prolonged and excessive rearfoot eversion, and a tearing mechanism characterized by high eccentric plantar flexor forces. The purpose of this pilot study was to determine if runners with and without a history of Achilles tendinopathy exhibited gait biomechanics consistent with either of these mechanisms. METHODS: Seven male runners with previous or current Achilles tendinopathy and seven healthy male control runners were evaluated by three-dimensional gait analysis...

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to explore the effects of 12-week gait retraining (GR) on plantar flexion torque, architecture, and behavior of the medial gastrocnemius (MG) during maximal voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC). METHODS: Thirty healthy male rearfoot strikers were randomly assigned to the GR group ( n = 15) and the control (CON) group ( n = 15). The GR group was instructed to wear minimalist shoes and run with a forefoot strike pattern for the 12-week GR (3 times per week), whereas the CON group wore their own running shoes and ran with their original foot strike pattern...

BACKGROUND: Table tennis is an asymmetric sport involving the powerful forward swing of the upper limbs depends on the solid support of the lower limbs. The foot drive really affects the weight balance and stroke accuracy even though the distance and momentum of the lower limb displacement are limited within a limited range. Given that previous research on table tennis has typically focused on the footwork and stroke performance of professional players, the study aimed to investigate the daily static and dynamic plantar load distribution as well as the centers of gravity balance and rearfoot posture among Taiwanese college elite table tennis players...

Background and Objectives: Studies analyzing lower extremity alignment (LEA) LEA among taekwondo subdisciplines athletes are lacking. This study compared LEA in the dominant and nondominant legs intaekwondo athletes. Materials and Methods: Twelve measurements of LEA were analyzed for 157 athletes (63 sparring, 50 demonstration, and 44 poomsae athletes) registered with the Korea Taekwondo Association. LEA was measured in the standing, supine, and prone positions using alignment application, a goniometer, a bubble inclinometer, a height gage, and a palpation meter...

Tibialis anterior tendon (TAT) ruptures are rare, equating to less than 1% of all musculotendinous injuries. These injuries can be acute or atraumatic, with the latter often associated with chronic degenerative tendinopathy. Surgical repair is indicated when conservative measures fail in meeting functional demands. Direct end-to-end repair is the preferred method for TAT ruptures but may not be feasible with a large tendon defect. Various surgical techniques have been described to address this pathology, including allograft tendon interposition or extensor hallucis longus (EHL) transfer...

Time spent in the operating room is valuable to both surgeons and patients. One of the biggest rate-limiting factors when it comes to arthrodesis procedures of the foot and ankle is cartilage removal and joint preparation. Power instrumentation in joint preparation provides an avenue to decrease joint preparation time, thus decreasing operating room time and costs. Arthrodesis of 47 joints (n) from 27 patients were included. Power rasp joint preparation in 26 joints was compared to traditional osteotome and curette joint preparation in 21 joints in both time (seconds), cost (total operating room time cost per minute), and union rate...

Here, we provide a complete, updated, and illustrated inventory, as well as a comprehensive study, of the tarsals (rearfoot) recovered from the Middle Pleistocene site of Sima de los Huesos (SH, Atapuerca, Spain) in comparison to other Homo comparative samples, both extant and fossil. The minimum number of individuals (MNI) estimated from the tarsals has been established as 15, which represents 51.7% of the 29 dental individuals identified within the SH sample. Within the SH hominin foot sample, an exclusive combination of primitive or plesiomorphic and derived or autapomorphic traits can be observed when compared with other Homo individuals/populations...

BACKGROUND: It is well documented that diabetes has a systemic impact on bone mineral density. Recent literature has evaluated the relationship between the development of Charcot neuroarthropathy and reduced local bone mineral density; however, it is not clear if there is an association between osteoporosis/osteopenia and Charcot onset, or, even further, location of neuroarthropathic breakdown. METHODS: We retrospectively identified and assessed 39 patients with 41 feet (4 bilateral) with a history of Charcot breakdown who underwent a bone mineral density scan over a 15-year period...

Foot pronation is a prevalent condition known to contribute to a range of lower extremity injuries. Numerous interventions have been employed to address this issue, many of which are expensive and necessitate specific facilities. Gait retraining has been suggested as a promising intervention for modifying foot pronation, offering the advantage of being accessible and independent of additional materials or specific time. We aimed to systematically review the literature on the effect of gait retraining on foot pronation...

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INTRODUCTION: Fifty percent of pregnant females experience pain with 20% reporting long-term pain post-partum. Pregnant females undergo changes in foot anthropometry, lower extremity alignment, and joint laxity. It is unknown if asymmetric alterations may be related to development of pain. The purpose of this study was twofold: 1) to compare asymmetric alignment in pregnant females with and without pain during pregnancy and in nulliparous controls and 2) to assess the relationship between asymmetric alignment and pain severity in all participants...

Tanji, F, Ohnuma, H, Ando, R, Yamanaka, R, Ikeda, T, and Suzuki, Y. Longer ground contact time is related to a superior running economy in highly trained distance runners. J Strength Cond Res XX(X): 000-000, 2023-Running economy is a key component of distance running performance and is associated with gait parameters. However, there is no consensus of the link between the running economy (RE), ground contact time, and footstrike patterns. Thus, this study aimed to clarify the relationship between RE, ground contact time, and thigh muscle cross-sectional area (CSA) in highly trained distance runners and to compare these parameters between 2 habitual footstrike patterns (midfoot vs...

UNLABELLED: The aim of the study was to determine the relationship between flatfoot morphology and body mass and height in children aged 6-12 years. A total of 6471 Chinese children (mean age 9.0 ± 1.9 years, 41% female) were assessed for foot morphometry, body height, and body mass index. Foot morphology, including foot length, width, girth, arch height, hallux valgus angle, and rearfoot valgus angle, was measured using a 3D laser scanner. Flatfoot evaluations were conducted using the Sztriter-Godunov index (KY) from footprints...

Jumping is involved in a wide range of sports and activities, and foot orthoses (FO) are suggested to enhance performance and prevent injury. The aim of this systematic review was to investigate whether using FO with different modifications affects jump landing biomechanics and improves performance in healthy individuals. The search strategy included 7 databases that identified 19 studies. The study quality was evaluated using a modified Downs and Black index. The primary outcome measures were joint kinematics, kinetics, muscle activity, vertical jump height, and horizontal jump distance...

PURPOSE: To investigate the effect of dynamic orthotic garments (Thera togs) on foot pressure distribution, postural control, and endurance in children with spastic diplegic CP. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This is a single-blind randomized controlled clinical trial involving 34 (8-10 years) with spastic diplegic CP. The control group received conventional physical therapy (CPT), whereas the study group received CPT in addition to wearing TheraTogs. We recorded foot pressure distribution, trunk control measurement scale, trunk position sense, Pediatric Berg Balance Scale (PBS), and six-minute walking distance (6MWD)...

This research investigates the stabilization of leg length and orientation during the landing phase of running, examining the effects of different footwear and foot strike patterns. Analyzing kinematic data from twenty male long-distance runners, both rearfoot and forefoot strikers, we utilized the Uncontrolled Manifold approach to assess stability. Findings reveal that both leg length and orientation are indeed stabilized during landing, challenging the hypothesis that rearfoot strikers exhibit less variance in deviations than forefoot strikers, and that increased footwear assistance would reduce these deviations...