Determination of relationship between foot arch, hindfoot, and hallux motion using Oxford foot model: Comparison between walking and running

Hitomi Shono; Yuka Matsumoto; Takanori Kokubun; Ayumi Tsuruta; Taku Miyazawa; Akira Kobayashi; Naohiko Kanemura

doi:10.1016/j.gaitpost.2021.10.043

Determination of relationship between foot arch, hindfoot, and hallux motion using Oxford foot model: Comparison between walking and running

Gait Posture. 2022 Feb:92:96-102. doi: 10.1016/j.gaitpost.2021.10.043. Epub 2021 Nov 11.

Authors

Hitomi Shono¹, Yuka Matsumoto², Takanori Kokubun³, Ayumi Tsuruta⁴, Taku Miyazawa⁵, Akira Kobayashi⁶, Naohiko Kanemura⁷

Affiliations

¹ Yatsuka Seikeigekanaika, Saitama 340-0028, Japan. Electronic address: 2081304e@spu.ac.jp.
² Graduate Course of Health and Social Services, Graduate School of Saitama Prefectural University, Saitama 343-8540, Japan; Research Fellowship for Young Scientists, Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, Tokyo 102-0083, Japan. Electronic address: 2191005s@spu.ac.jp.
³ Department of Health and Social Services, Saitama Prefectural University, Saitama 343-8540, Japan. Electronic address: kokubun-takanori@spu.ac.jp.
⁴ Ageo Futatsumiya Clinic, Saitama 362-0017, Japan. Electronic address: 2081307f@spu.ac.jp.
⁵ Hasuda Central Clinic, Saitama 349-0101, Japan. Electronic address: 1681310@spu.ac.jp.
⁶ Graduate Course of Health and Social Services, Graduate School of Saitama Prefectural University, Saitama 343-8540, Japan. Electronic address: 1991003n@spu.ac.jp.
⁷ Department of Health and Social Services, Saitama Prefectural University, Saitama 343-8540, Japan. Electronic address: kanemura-naohiko@spu.ac.jp.

PMID: 34839207
DOI: 10.1016/j.gaitpost.2021.10.043

Abstract

Background: The foot arch plays an important role in propulsion and shock absorption during walking and running; however, the relationship among the foot arch, metatarsal locking theory, and nature of the windlass mechanism (WM) remain unclear.

Research question: What are the differences in the kinematic relationship between the foot arch, hindfoot, and hallux during walking and running?

Methods: Relative angles within the foot were measured in 18 healthy men using the Oxford foot model (OFM). Data for barefoot walking at a comfortable speed and rearfoot running at 2.0 m/s were collected. Angles of the forefoot relative to the hindfoot (OFM-arch), hallux relative to the forefoot (Hallux) on the sagittal plane, and hindfoot relative to the shank (Hindfoot) on three anatomical planes were obtained. The medial longitudinal arch (MLA) angle was calculated to verify that OFM-arch can substitute the MLA angle. Each parameter was subjected to cross-correlation analysis and Wilcoxon signed-rank tests to examine the relationship with OFM-arch and compare them during walking and running.

Result: OFM-arch was similar to the conventional MLA projection angle in both trials (gait: 0.79, running: 0.96 p < 0.01). Synchronization of the OFM-arch and Hallux angles was higher in running than in walking (gait: -0.09, running: -0.75 p < 0.01). Hindfoot supination was unrelated to OFM-arch. Hindfoot angle on the transverse plane exhibited a moderate relationship with OFM-arch, indicating different correlations in walking and running (gait: 0.63, running: -0.68 p < 0.01).

Significance: The elevation of the foot arch due to hallux dorsiflexion differed during walking and running; hence, other factors besides WM (such as intrinsic muscles) may affect the foot arch elevation during running. The hindfoot in the frontal plane does not contribute to arch raising and foot stability during running; it features different relationships with OFM-arch during walking and running.

Keywords: Foot arch motion; Metatarsal locking; Oxford foot model; Running; Walking; Windlass mechanism.

MeSH terms

Biomechanical Phenomena / physiology
Foot / physiology
Gait / physiology
Hallux*
Humans
Male
Running*
Walking / physiology