Anmin Liu

Christopher J Nester

Hannah Jarvis

LG Portney

ML Root

MW Cornwall

Peter P Bowden

Richard K Jones

Journal of Foot and Ankle Research

English

PubMed

Crossref

Static examination of the range of ankle joint dorsiflexion is not related to dynamic foot kinematics

Jarvis, H

Nester, CJ

Bowden, PP

Jones, RK

Liu, A

Keele Research Repository

Springer - Publisher Connector

POSTER PRESENTATION Open Access
Static examination of the range of ankle joint
dorsiflexion is not related to dynamic foot
kinematics
Hannah Jarvis*, Christopher J Nester, Peter P Bowden, Richard K Jones, Anmin Liu
From 3rd Congress of the International Foot and Ankle Biomechanics Community
Sydney, Australia. 11-13 April 2012
Background
Our aim was to (1) investigate whether the range of
ankle dorsiflexion measured in a static examination
relates to the sagittal plane motion within the foot dur-
ing walking and (2) investigate the popular clinical the-
ory that individuals with limited ankle joint dorsiflexion
(in a static examination [1,2]) will demonstrate increased
rearfoot eversion during walking [1-3].
Materials and method
The static range of ankle joint dorsiflexion was mea-
sured with the knee flexed and extended (n=100).
Dynamic foot kinematics were measured for the tibia,
calcaneus, midfoot, lateral forefoot, medial forefoot and
hallux, and 13 parameters derived to characterise foot
kinematics (right foot only). The relationship between
static range of ankle joint dorsiflexion and sagittal plane
motion within the foot during walking was examined
using Pearsons correlation. An independent t-test
(p<0.05) was used to compare dynamic foot kinematics
in subjects exhibiting <10° and >15° of static ankle joint
dorsiflexion (n=83, n=7 knee extended, n=40, n=23 knee
flexed).
Results
The range of ankle joint dorsiflexion measured statically
was poorly correlated [4] with all 13 parameters describ-
ing dynamic foot kinematics (all r values < -0.254,
p<0.05). Individuals with <10° of static ankle joint dorsi-
flexion exhibited less eversion of the calcaneus relative
to the tibia between forefoot loading and heel lift (mean,
2.1° eversion motion compared to 4.8° eversion motion
(knee extended), and 1.6° eversion motion compared to
3.5° (knee flexed)). Also, there was less plantarflexion of
the medial forefoot relative to the midfoot between heel
lift and toe off (mean value of 13.1° compared to 18.5°).
Conclusions
Static assessment of ankle joint dorsiflexion does not
appear to relate to dynamic foot kinematics. The differ-
ences in foot kinematics in those with <10 or >15 of
ankle joint dorsiflexion measured from static examina-
tion contradict a key principle of the current clinical
paradigm from Root et al [1,2].
Published: 10 April 2012
References
1. Root ML, Orien WP, Weed JH, Hughes RJ: Biomechanical examination of
the foot. Los Angeles: Clinical Biomechanics Corp; 1971.
2. Root ML, Orien WP, Weed JH, Hughes RJ: Normal and abnormal function
of the foot. Los Angeles: Clinical Biomechanics Corp; 1977.
3. Cornwall MW, McPoil TG: Effect of ankle dorsiflexion on rearfoot motion
during walking. J Am Podiatr Med Assoc 1999, 89:272-277.
4. Portney LG, Watkins MP: Foundations of clinical research. Applications to
practice. Connecticut: Appleton and Lange, 3 2009.
doi:10.1186/1757-1146-5-S1-P21
Cite this article as: Jarvis et al.: Static examination of the range of ankle
joint dorsiflexion is not related to dynamic foot kinematics. Journal of
Foot and Ankle Research 2012 5(Suppl 1):P21.
* Correspondence: H.L.Jarvis@edu.salford.ac.uk
School of Health, Sport and Rehabilitation Sciences, Centre for Health, Sport
and Rehabilitation Sciences Research, University of Salford, Salford, M6 6PU,
UK
Jarvis et al. Journal of Foot and Ankle Research 2012, 5(Suppl 1):P21
http://www.jfootankleres.com/content/5/S1/P21
JOURNAL OF FOOT
AND ANKLE RESEARCH
© 2012 Jarvis et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd. This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons
Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in
any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.


Hughes RJ: Biomechanical examination of the foot. Los Angeles: Clinical Biomechanics Corp;

McPoil TG: Effect of ankle dorsiflexion on rearfoot motion during walking.

RJ: Normal and abnormal function of the foot. Los Angeles: Clinical Biomechanics Corp;

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Static examination of the range of ankle joint dorsiflexion is not related to dynamic foot kinematics

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