The interrelationship between three-dimensional foot mobility and bodyweight bearing.
Toshihiko Sato, Tsutomu Fukui, Shinichi Kawata and 5 others
PMID 36866006WHAT IT FOUND
Standing weight-bearing significantly changes 3D foot shape, including increased length and width.
Calcaneus eversion mobility correlates strongly with medial displacement of the ankle and midfoot, but shows a negative relationship with downward displacement of these same structures.
Key findings
01Foot length, heel width, forefoot width, hallux valgus angle, and calcaneus eversion angle were significantly larger in the standing position compared to sitting.
02Greater calcaneus eversion angle mobility was associated with greater medial mobility of the medial and lateral malleoli, navicular, and dorsum of the foot.
03Greater calcaneus eversion angle mobility was associated with less downward mobility of the medial malleolus, navicular, and dorsum of the foot.
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How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTs
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What it does not show
The study measured feet in static sitting and standing positions only. It did not capture foot motion during walking or running, where loads are higher and dynamics differ. Participants were instructed to distribute weight equally, but this was not quantitatively monitored, so slight asymmetries could have influenced the results. The sample consisted of young, healthy adults (mean age 20.8 years) with no history of lower extremity pain, so findings may not apply to patients with foot deformities, arthritis, or pain conditions. The study focused only on the left lower limb, which may not represent bilateral mechanics.
Declared interests
None declared.
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume these static weight-bearing changes apply to dynamic gait. The authors note that loads during activity are higher than body weight, so the foot's behavior while walking may differ significantly from the patterns observed here in standing.