FUNCTIONAL MOTION OF THE MEDIAL COLUMN JOINTS OF THE FOOT DURING PROPULSION

Motion In the ankle, subtalar, midtarsal, and first metatarsophalangea l joints has been well documented. However, motion in the first metata rsocuneiform, the first cuneonavicular, and the first interphalangeal Joint has not been addressed. Motion in these joints has not been docu mented because many believe that little motion occurs at these joints, and because of the difficulty in assessing motion at these joints. Us ing two-dimensional motion analysis, the authors present sagittal plan e ranges of motion occurring in the first metatarsophalangeal joint, t he first metatarsocuneiform joint, the medial cuneonavicular joint, an d the first interphalangeal joint during the propulsive period of gait . This pilot study indicates that sagittal plane motion between the na vicular and calcaneus and between the first metatarsal and first cunei form are very mild and inconsistent. However, plantarflexion motion be tween the first cuneiform and the navicular is significant and compris es most of the plantarflexion motion of the first ray during propulsio n. Motion in the first interphalangeal joint is slight during the firs t 80% of the propulsive period but shows slight-to-moderate dorsiflexi on during the last 20% of the propulsive period of gait.