Frontal plane load beneath the calcaneus and relationship to foot type classification

The authors of this paper argue that the plantar lateral and more specifically, the medial region beneath the calcaneus, are two of the most critical areas of force transfer between the foot and supporting surface during dynamic gait ([Guldemond et al., 2006] and [Bennett et al., 1994]).-----\ud \ud It is at the medial location (inferior sustentaculum tali) that functional foot orthoses have been observed to exert significant influence and as such, warrant most serious consideration.-----\ud \ud It has been suggested that factors such as chronic ankle instability (Nyska et al., 2003), range of frontal plane motion (Cornwall and McPoil, 1997), and walking speed (Taylor et al., 2004 A.J. Taylor, H.B. Menz and A.-M. Keenan, The Foot 14 (2004), pp. 49–55. Article | PDF (130 K) | View Record in Scopus | Cited By in Scopus (11)Taylor et al., 2004) affect these parameters.-----\ud \ud The EMED and PEDAR force/pressure systems allow for understanding the magnitude and timing of forces acting across the heel (inferiomedial to the subtalar joint) and this may provide clinicians with an opportunity to quantitatively assess, and subsequently apply mechanical therapy such as foot orthoses, in a known and predictable manner.-----\ud \ud Cavanagh et al. (1997) demonstrated around 31% of the variance in peak plantar pressure at the heel could be explained with the radiographic measurements as independent variables. Soft tissue thickness was a strong predictor of plantar pressure under the heel, and the purpose of the current study was to explore this particular region in further detail