The relationship between movement of the shank while running and foot alignment factors that lead to the onset of Achilles peritendinitis.
Yasushi Kurihara, Miki Tagami, Tadamitsu Matsuda and 1 others
PMID 30936636WHAT IT FOUND
In healthy male runners, a more outward leaning shank tracked with greater inward foot roll, a higher Navicular index, and restricted ankle dorsiflexion.
These are links in healthy people, not proof of Achilles tendon injury.
Key findings
01In 54 healthy men, outward shank inclination at the first vertical force peak and at maximum ankle dorsiflexion correlated with ankle adduction in propulsive phase (r=0.36 and r=0.43).
02Outward shank inclination at the first vertical force peak correlated with Navicular index (r=0.31), and with ankle dorsiflexion range negatively at the first peak and maximum dorsiflexion (r=-0.44 and r=-0.44).
03No other tested correlations between shank angle and foot movement or static alignment were statistically significant.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTs
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What it does not show
The study included only healthy adults with no previous orthopedic ailment in the past 6 months, so it did not test people with Achilles peritendinitis. The sample was all men. All participants used a rearfoot strike pattern, so the findings may not apply to forefoot strikers. The significant correlations were not strong, so shank angle alone should not be treated as a clinical test. The study measured associations at about 3.0 m/s and did not follow participants to see who developed Achilles peritendinitis.
Declared interests
None declared.
The easy way to misread this
Do not use shank angle to diagnose or predict Achilles peritendinitis. The study was in 54 healthy rearfoot strikers, and the correlations were not strong.