Gait & Posture
Volume 25, Issue 1 , Pages 63-69, January 2007

Determination of subtalar joint axis location by restriction of talocrural joint motion

  • Gregory S. Lewis

      Affiliations

    • Department of Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering, 29 Recreation Building, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
    • ,
  • Kevin A. Kirby

      Affiliations

    • California School of Podiatric Medicine, Oakland, CA 94609, USA
    • ,
  • Stephen J. Piazza

      Affiliations

    • Department of Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering, 29 Recreation Building, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
    • Department of Kinesiology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
    • Department of Orthopaedics and Rehabilitation, The Pennsylvania State University, Hershey, PA 17033, USA
    • Corresponding Author InformationCorresponding author. Tel.: +1 814 865 3413; fax: +1 814 863 4755.

Received 15 November 2005; received in revised form 23 December 2005; accepted 3 January 2006. published online 03 February 2006.

Abstract 

The location of the subtalar joint axis is an important determinant of the mechanical function of the foot. The moments of muscle forces and of the ground reaction force about the subtalar joint are dependent upon the location of this joint axis. There is substantial variation in subtalar axis location across subjects, but current methods for determining its location are often invasive or involve expensive imaging protocols. A novel technique for location of the subtalar axis is presented in which the talocrural joint is passively immobilized so that motion of the tibia relative to the calcaneus can be used to estimate the subtalar axis. This paper presents results of cadaver testing in which accuracy of the technique was assessed by comparing helical axes computed from calcaneus-tibia bone motions to axes computed from calcaneus-talus bone motions. Only small motions at the talocrural joint were observed, and good estimates of the subtalar axis (errors less than 15° and 2mm) were achieved in four of six specimens.

Keywords: Subtalar, Ankle, Functional, Joint axis

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PII: S0966-6362(06)00004-X

doi:10.1016/j.gaitpost.2006.01.001

Gait & Posture
Volume 25, Issue 1 , Pages 63-69, January 2007

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