Cranio-caudal and medio-lateral navicular translation are representative surrogate measures of foot function in asymptomatic adults during walking

PLoS One. 2018 Dec 5;13(12):e0208175. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0208175. eCollection 2018.

Abstract

Introduction: The translation of the navicular bone is thought to be a representative surrogate measure to assess foot pronation and hence foot function; however, it is not known how it is related to multi-segment foot kinematics.

Methods: Cranio-caudal (NCC) and medio-lateral (NML) navicular translation and multi-segment foot kinematics from the Oxford Foot Model (OFM) were simultaneously assessed during the stance phase of walking in 20 healthy adults. Relationships to forefoot to hindfoot (FFtoHF), hindfoot to tibia (HFtoTBA) and global hindfoot (HFL) motion were explored by cross-correlations at zero phase shift.

Results: FFtoHF sagittal, transversal and frontal plane angles showed median cross correlations of -0.95, 0.82 and 0.53 with NCC and of 0.78, -0.81 and -0.90 with NML. HFtoTBA transversal and frontal plane angles had correlations of 0.15 and 0.74 with NCC and of -0.38 and -0.83 with NML. The HFL frontal plane angle showed correlations of 0.41 and -0.44 with NCC and NML, respectively.

Discussion: The strongest relationships were found between FFtoHF sagittal plane angles and NCC and between FFtoHF frontal plane angles and NML. However, cranio-caudal and medio-lateral navicular translation seem to be reasonable surrogates for the triplanar motion between the fore- and hindfoot. The medial longitudinal arch dropped and bulged medially, while the forefoot dorsiflexed, abducted and everted with respect to the hindfoot and vice-versa. The lower cross-correlation coefficients between the rear foot parameters and NCC/NML indicated no distinct relationships between rearfoot frontal plane and midfoot kinematics. The validity of rearfoot parameters, like Achilles tendon or Calcaneal angle, to assess midfoot function must be therefore questioned. The study could also not confirm a systematic relationship between midfoot kinematics and the internal/external rotation between the hindfoot and the tibia. The measurement of navicular translation is suggested as an alternative to more complex multi-segment foot models to assess foot function.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Biomechanical Phenomena / physiology*
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Female
  • Foot / anatomy & histology
  • Foot / physiology*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Metatarsal Bones / anatomy & histology
  • Metatarsal Bones / physiology
  • Middle Aged
  • Models, Anatomic
  • Movement / physiology
  • Pronation / physiology*
  • Range of Motion, Articular / physiology*
  • Tarsal Bones / anatomy & histology
  • Tarsal Bones / physiology*
  • Tibia / anatomy & histology
  • Tibia / physiology
  • Walking / physiology*

Grants and funding

The authors report no financial relationships related to any products involved in this study. The research was part of a project funded by the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF, grant number 140928). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.