Reevaluation of the relaxed calcaneal stance position - Reliability and normal values in children and adults

Reliability and normal values for the relaxed calcaneal stance position wer e determined in a nonclinic population of healthy adults and children (88 a dults and 124 children) ranging in age from 5 to 36 years. The mean relaxed calcaneal stance position for adults was 6.07 degrees valgus (SD 2.71 degr ees) (range, 1 degrees varus to 14 degrees valgus), The mean relaxed calcan eal stance position for children was 5.6 degrees valgus (SD 2.9 degrees) (r ange, 6 degrees varus to 12 degrees valgus), There was no significant diffe rence between the relaxed calcaneal stance positions of adults and children . In children the relaxed calcaneal stance position did not correlate with age, height, or weight and did not decrease with age to the theoretical nor mal value of 0 degrees +/- 2 degrees as postulated by Root et al. The relax ed calcaneal stance position was found to be a reliable measurement; howeve r, the theoretical normal value of 0 degrees +/- 2 degrees was not found. T he values reported in the present study correspond with the results of othe r empirical studies; thus the theoretical normal value for the relaxed calc aneal stance position of 0 degrees +/- 2 degrees may be invalid.