Marker placement sensitivity of the Oxford and Rizzoli foot models in adults and children

Abstract

Understanding the effect of individual marker misplacements is important to improve the repeatability and aid to the interpretation of multi-segment foot models like the Oxford and Rizzoli Foot Models (OFM, RFM). Therefore, this study aimed to quantify the effect of controlled anatomical marker misplacement on multi-segment foot kinematics (i.e. marker placement sensitivity) as calculated by OFM and RFM in a range of foot sizes. Ten healthy adults and nine children were included. A combined OFM and RFM marker set was placed on their right foot and a static standing trial was collected. Each marker was replaced ± 10 mm in steps of 1 mm over the three axes of a foot coordinate system. For each replacement the change in segment orientation (tibia, hindfoot, midfoot, forefoot) was calculated with respect to the reference pose in which no markers were replaced. A linear fit was made to calculate the sensitivity of segment orientation to marker misplacement in °/mm. Additionally, the effect of foot size on the sensitivity was determined using linear regressions. For every foot segment of both models, at least one marker had a sensitivity ≥ 1.0°/mm. Highest values were found for the markers at the posterior aspect of the calcaneus in OFM (1.5°/mm) and the basis of the second metatarsal in RFM (1.4°/mm). Foot size had a small effect on 40% of the sensitivity values. This study identified markers of which consistent placement is critical to prevent clinically relevant errors (>5°). For more repeatable multi-segment models, the role of these markers within the models' definitions needs to be reconsidered.

Keywords: Foot kinematics; Gait analysis; Measurement error; Multi-segment foot models; Repeatability.