COMPARISON OF MAXIMAL PASSIVE HALLUX DORSIFLEXION WITH MIDFOOT MOMENT IN PUSH OFF PHASE DURING GAIT

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to relate 1st metatarsophalangeal (1MTP) joint stiffness caused by maximal passive hallux dorsiflexion with midfoot moment in the push off phase during gait. Hallux dorsiflexion and 1MTP joint stiffness was measured using a hallux dynamometer, while participants (n = 8) were relaxed in a purpose-built chair. Motion capture and kinetic data was collected during chair and gait measurements. Mean stiffness, calculated over the 1MTP joint range of motion of 0.04, 0.029 and 0.041 Nm/deg (ankle in maximal dorsiflexion, 90 deg and maximal plantar flexion respectively) was found. A regression analysis between timing of maximal midfoot sagittal plane moment in gait indicated that up to 60% of the variance in timing of the midfoot sagittal plane moment was explained by the mean stiffness of the 1MTP joint.