ASSESSMENT OF FOOT DISORDERS USING BIOMECHANICAL ANALYSIS OF FOOT LOADS DURING LOCOMOTION

The aim of this study was to investigate techniques for assessment of surgical procedures for foot disorders. An optoelectronic system was u sed to obtain position data during walking for the knee joint, ankle j oint and the second metatarsal joint. The ground reaction forces were simultaneously measured and the moment of force at the mentioned joint s were analysed. Pressure transducers in the shoe were used to measure the local pressure at the great toe, first and fifth metatarsal heads , and heel pad. Among studied procedures were Keller's operation for h allux rigidus and distal oblique osteotomy for hallux valgus. The stud y indicated that both methods can be used to assess mediolateral shift s of the centre of pressure on the foot due to the operation. A differ ence between operation results were that the moment arm of the ground reaction force with respect to the knee joint increased after distal o blique osteotomy, while it decreased after the Keller type operation. From a clinical point of view this can have the effect that the loads at the knee joint and especially at the medial condyle increases after the distal oblique osteotomy.