The pattern of motion of the longitudinal arch of the foot

Abstract

We studied motion of the longitudinal arch of the foot using roentgen stereophotogrammetric analysis. Motion was analysed in response to great toe dorsiflexion, maximum plantarflexion/supination and heel raise, all actions previously stated to alter the height of the longitudinal arch. The largest amounts of motion were seen in the talonavicular joint (ranging from 37.1° to 14.2°) This included significant amounts of plantarflexion, adduction (or internal rotation) and supination occuring during the process of arch raising. This pattern of motion was seen in all forms of arch raising activity studied. Forced great toe dorsiflexion induced the maximum motion seen in the talonavicular joint. Motion of a significant degree was also induced in the talocalcaneal joint (17.9-8.6). Anterior to this motion was less (10.1 - 3.5° for the total motion in the naviculo-cuneiform joint and 8.0-3.0° for the cuneiform-metatarsal joint) and in the longtudinal plane these joints went into pronation. From a clinical point of view, it is important to recognize the role of the talonavicular joint in arch motion and that the involvement of the talonavicular joint in this sort of activity occurs in all three planes.