Video based analysis of dynamic midfoot function and its relationship with Foot Posture Index scores
Received 19 January 2009; received in revised form 10 September 2009; accepted 22 September 2009. published online 26 October 2009.
Abstract
Introduction
Various studies have demonstrated significant as well as non-significant relationships between static evaluation of foot posture and injury likelihood. Therefore, the relationship of static and dynamic measures needs to be established as in clinical settings time consuming dynamic methods are often not feasible.
Purpose
Assess reliability of a new method to quantify midfoot movement and validate the use of Foot Posture Index (FPI) classification as predictor of dynamic foot function during walking.
Method
Foot type was classified using FPI in 280 randomly selected adult participants (mean age 43.4 years). A Video Sequence Analysis (VSA) system was used to quantify midfoot kinematics during walking. Navicula drop (ΔNH) and minimal navicula height (NHL) were compared with FPI.
Results
The Intraclass Correlation Coefficients (ICC) for ΔNH and NHL ranged from 0.65 to 0.95 with a coefficient of repeatability of 1.4mm for ΔNH and 4.5mm for NHL. System precision was estimated at 0.99mm for ΔNH and 3.18mm for NHL. ΔNH was significantly positively correlated with FPI scores while NHL decreased with increasing FPI. However, the FPI model predicted only 13.2% of the variation in ΔNH and 45% of the variation in NHL during walking (p<0.001).
Conclusion
The VSA was proven as a reliable and precise method to quantify midfoot kinematics. FPI scores and individual components of the FPI show strong statistical relationships to dynamic measures but individual predictions remain questionable. Dynamic midfoot measures are recommended for clinical foot assessments.
ABSTRACT