Is It Important to Position Foot in Subtalar Joint Neutral Position During Non-Weight-Bearing Molding for Foot Orthoses?
By Lee, Winson C.C.; Lee, Christina K.L.; Leung, Aaron K.L.; Hutchins, Stephen W.; Journal of Rehabilitation Research and Development, Volume 49, Number 3, pages 459-466Publication Date: 2012
Study tested the hypothesis that, since foot orthoses have no contact with the talus bone, as long as there is correction available to appropriately align the forefoot relative to the hindfoot when taking a mold for a foot orthosis, changes in subtalar joint angles do not lead to significant alterations in the plantar surface shapes of the molds taken. Study participants were 20 nondisabled volunteers aged 22 to 46 years, 8 of whom were male. During non-weight-bearing casting, the subtalar joints were aligned at positions of 4 degrees of eversion, 2 degrees of eversion, and 2 degrees of inversion, and in neutral. At each orientation, forces were applied over the forefoot such that the metatarsal heads were aligned with the hindfoot. Digital scanning used to analyze the shape of each negative mold. There were significant changes in projection volume in different subtalar joint orientations. However, the changes in arch heights, navicular height, and protrusion were insignificant and very small. Based on study results, the authors conclude that as long as the forefoot and hindfoot are appropriately aligned, variations in the orientation of the subtalar joint would be acceptable.
Published by:
VA Rehabilitation Research & Development Service (Web Site: http://www.rehab.research.va.gov )
Link to text: http://www.rehab.research.va.gov/jour/2012/493/lee493.html
