LOWER-EXTREMITY STATIC AND DYNAMIC RELATIONSHIPS WITH REARFOOT MOTIONIN GAIT

Twenty nonsymptomatic subjects were assessed while walking at a photoe lectronically monitored pace (2 +/- 0.1 m . s-1) using high speed cine matography (200 Hz) to record the rearfoot motion in the frontal plane , and electrogoniometry (100 Hz) to measure joint kinematics in the lo wer extremity. The foot type of the subjects was determined statically by using a podiascope and digitization techniques. The results demons trated that no foot type variables contributed significantly to the va riance in either rearfoot angle at foot strike or maximum rearfoot ang le (p > 0.05). Regression equations were developed using kinematic var iables: rearfoot angle at foot strike = 3.81 + (0.06time to hip inter nal rotation) - (0.46tibia internal rotation) + (0.14*plantarflexion) ; (R = 0.87, SE = 1.23-degrees); maximum rearfoot angle = 4.02 + (0.52 hip internal rotation) - (0.11*time to hip internal rotation);(R = 0. 66, SE = 2.07-degrees). This study identifies hip joint movements as b eing the most significant contributors to prediction of rearfoot angle s produced during walking.