Objective: To quantify the magnitude of global rearfoot motion, in particular, rearfoot adduction and to investigate its relationship to tibial rotation.
Design: One hundred and four participants ran barefoot on an Ethylene Vinyl Acetate (EVA) foam. Global range of motion values for the shank, rearfoot and medial metatarsal segment as well as foot motion within the transverse plane were determined using an optoelectric motion capture system. Relationships between parameters were assessed using partial correlation analysis.
Results: Global rearfoot adduction amounts to 6.1° (±2.7). Furthermore global rearfoot adduction and rearfoot eversion were significantly related to internal tibial rotation (partial correlation: r=0.37, p<0.001 and r=-0.24, p=0.015, respectively). Furthermore, a strong relationship between rearfoot adduction and transverse within foot motion (r=-0.65, p<0.001) was found.
Conclusion: Next to rearfoot eversion, rearfoot adduction may be also important to the understanding of ankle joint coupling. Controlling rearfoot adduction and transverse within foot motion may be a mechanism to control excessive tibial rotation.
Keywords: Ankle joint; Calcaneal adduction; Joint coupling; Running injuries; Running mechanics.
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