| This study examined the effect of foot orthotics and footwear
on static rearfoot kinematics. Thirty-four subjects (5 males, 29 females)
from physical therapy clinics and the college community gave informed
consent to participate. Subject age was 42 (18) years; subject height
was 1.7 (0.1) meters; subject body mass was 72.6 (12.1) kg. Markers
were placed on specific sites of the lower leg and calcaneus to determine
the rearfoot angle. Rearfoot angle was measured with a goniometer
and digitized with video-based software (Ariel Performance Analysis
System). A calcaneal mold was utilized to determine the position of
the calcaneus in the shod conditions. Static rearfoot angles were
measured in the following conditions: barefoot (B), barefoot with
the calcaneal mold (BM), barefoot with the calcaneal mold plus the
orthotic (BMO), shod with the calcaneal mold (SM), and shod with the
calcaneal mold plus the orthotic (SMO). An independent t-test analyzed
differences between each condition as measured with the APAS and goniometer.
A one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was utilized to determine statistically
significant differences among the 5 foot conditions (p < 0.05).
Independent t-tests revealed no significant differences (p > 0.05)
between the APAS and goniometer measurements within each condition.
One-way ANOVA showed a significant difference (p < 0.01) among the five
conditions as measured by APAS. Post-hoc analysis determined that
the difference between BM and SM; and the BM and SMO conditions were
significantly different (p < 0.01). It was observed that the orthotic
slightly decreased the amount of calcaneal eversion in the standing
position. The shoes worn in the study, though neutral in construction,
did significantly alter rearfoot kinematics in comparison to BM.
KEY
WORDS: Foot orthoses, calcaneal eversion, rearfoot motion, shoe
construction.
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