Measuring Foot Mobility with a New Test
Author Information
Author(s): Thomas G McPoil, Mark W Cornwall, Lynn Medoff, Bill Vicenzino, Kelly Forsberg, Dana Hilz
Primary Institution: Northern Arizona University
Hypothesis
The study aims to determine the reliability and validity of a new foot mobility assessment method using digital images during the Sit-to-Stand test.
Conclusion
The change in dorsal arch height during the Sit-to-Stand test provides a reliable and valid alternative to the navicular drop test for assessing foot mobility.
Supporting Evidence
- The mean difference in dorsal arch height between non-weight bearing and weight bearing was 10 millimeters.
- The change in arch height during the Sit-to-Stand test showed good to high levels of reliability.
- The navicular drop test has poor inter-rater reliability, making it less reliable for clinical use.
- The new method does not require identifying bony landmarks, potentially increasing reliability.
- Participants were healthy individuals with no history of foot or lower extremity issues.
Takeaway
This study found a new way to check how flexible your foot is by measuring how much the arch changes when you sit and stand.
Methodology
275 healthy participants had their feet photographed while standing with 50% body weight and sitting to measure dorsal arch height.
Potential Biases
Potential bias due to the reliance on digital images and the need for processing before measurements.
Limitations
The study was conducted only on healthy individuals, which may not represent those with injuries or systemic diseases.
Participant Demographics
275 participants (155 women and 120 men) with a mean age of 26.3 years.
Statistical Information
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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