• 1

    Sgarlato TE (ed): A Compendium of Podiatric Biomechanics, p 60, California College of Podiatric Medicine, San Francisco, CA, 1971..

  • 2

    Inman VT: The Joints of the Ankle, p 35, Williams & Wilkins, Baltimore, 1976..

  • 3

    Root ML, Orien WP, Weed JH: Normal and Abnormal Function of the Foot, p 28, Clinical Biomechanics Corp, Los Angeles, CA, 1977..

  • 4

    Wernick J, Volpe RG: “Lower Extremity Function and Normal Mechanics,” in Clinical Biomechanics of the Lower Extremity, ed by RL Valmassy, p 9, CV Mosby, St Louis, MO, 1996..

  • 5

    Manter JT: Movements of the subtalar and transverse tarsal joints. .Anat Rec 80::397. ,1941. .

  • 6

    Hicks JH: The mechanics of the foot: the joints. .J Anat 87::345. ,1953. .

  • 7

    Root ML, Weed JH, Sgarlato TE, et al: Axis of motion of the subtalar joint. .JAPA 56::149. ,1966. .

  • 8

    Isman RE, Inman VT: Anthropometric studies of the human foot and ankle. .Bull Pros Res 10::97. ,1969. .

  • 9

    Van Langelaan EJ: A kinematical analysis of the tarsal joints: an X-ray photogrammetric study. .Acta Orthop Scand 54 (suppl)::204. ,1983. .

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • 10

    Benink RJ: The constraint mechanism of the human tarsus. .Acta Orthop Scand 56 (suppl)::215. ,1985. .

  • 11

    Lundberg A, Svensson OK: The axes of rotation of the talocalcaneal and talonavicular joints. .Foot 3::65. ,1993. .

  • 12

    Sarrafian SK: Anatomy of the Foot and Ankle, p 387, JB Lippincott, Philadelphia, 1983..

  • 13

    Kirby KA, Loendorf AJ, Gregorio R: Anterior axial projection of the foot. .JAPMA 78::159. ,1988. .

  • 14

    Kirby KA: Rotational equilibrium across the subtalar joint axis. .JAPMA 79::1. ,1989. .

  • 15

    Kirby KA, Green DR: “Evaluation and Nonoperative Management of Pes Valgus,” in Foot and Ankle Disorders in Children, ed by S DeValentine, p 298, Churchill-Livingstone, New York, 1992..

  • 16

    Kirby KA: The medial heel skive technique: improving pronation control in foot orthoses. .JAPMA 82::177. ,1992. .

  • 17

    Kirby KA: Foot and Lower-Extremity Biomechanics: A Ten-Year Collection of Precision Intricast Newsletters, Precision Intricast, 1997..

  • 18

    Kirby KA: Motion of the subtalar joint axis during weightbearing activities. .Precision Intricast Newsletter (July.)1997. .

  • 19

    Nester CJ: Review of literature on the axis of rotation at the subtalar joint. .Foot 8::111. ,1998. .

  • 20

    Kirby KA: Methods for determination of positional variations in the subtalar joint axis. .JAPMA 77::228. ,1987. .

  • 21

    Ruby P, Hull ML, Kirby KA, et al: The effect of lower-limb anatomy on knee loads during seated cycling. .J Biomech 25::1195. ,1992. .

  • 22

    Morton DJ: The Human Foot: Its Evolution, Physiology, and Functional Disorders, p 105, Columbia University Press, Morningside Heights, NY, 1935..

  • 23

    Ozkaya N, Nordin M: Fundamentals of Biomechanics: Equilibrium, Motion, and Deformation, p 49, Van Nostrand Reinhold, New York, 1991..

  • 24

    Hicks JH: “The Three Weight-Bearing Mechanisms of the Foot,” in Biomechanical Studies of the Musculoskeletal System, ed by FG Evans, p 161, CC Thomas, Springfield, IL, 1961..

  • 25

    Hice GA: Orthotic treatment of feet having a high oblique midtarsal joint axis. .JAPA 74::577. ,1984. .

  • 26

    Huson A: “Functional Anatomy of the Foot,” in Disorders of the Foot and Ankle, ed by MH Jahss, p 409, WB Saunders, Philadelphia, 1991..

  • 27

    Cornwall MW, McPoil TG: Three-dimensional movement of the foot during the stance phase of walking. .JAPMA 89::56. ,1999. .

  • 28

    Nigg BM: “Mechanics,” in Biomechanics of the Musculo-skeletal System, ed by BM Nigg, W Herzog, p 36, John Wiley & Sons, New York, 1994..

  • 29

    Allard P, Eng P, Stokes IAF, et al: “Modeling of the Foot and Ankle,” in Disorders of the Foot and Ankle, ed by MH Jahss, p 432, WB Saunders, Philadelphia, 1991..

  • 30

    Payne CB: The role of theory in understanding the midtarsal joint [commentary]. .JAPMA 90::377. ,2000. .

  • 31

    LeVeau BF: Williams and Lissner’s Biomechanics of Human Motion, 3rd Ed, p 99, WB Saunders, Philadelphia, 1992..

  • 32

    Root ML, Orien WP, Weed JH, et al: Biomechanical Examination of the Foot, p 116, Clinical Biomechanics Corp, Los Angeles, CA, 1971..

  • 33

    Kirby KA: Biomechanics of the normal and abnormal foot. .JAPMA 90::30. ,2000. .

  • 34

    Kirby KA: Effect of subtalar joint axis location on subtalar joint moments. .Precision Intricast Newsletter (August.),1997. .

  • 35

    Kirby KA: The balancing of moments across the subtalar joint axis. .Precision Intricast Newsletter (April.),1998. .

  • 36

    Blake RL: Inverted functional orthosis. .JAPMA 76::275. ,1986. .

  • 37

    Blake RL, Ferguson H: Foot orthosis for the severe flatfoot in sports. .JAPMA 81::549. ,1991. .

  • 38

    Blake RL, Ferguson H: Update and rationale for the inverted functional foot orthosis. .Clin Podiatr Med Surg 11::311. ,1994. .

  • 39

    Blake RL, Ferguson H: “The Inverted Orthotic Technique: Its Role in Clinical Biomechanics,” in Clinical Biomechanics of the Lower Extremities, ed by RL Valmassy, p 466, Mosby-Year Book, St Louis, MO, 1996..

  • 40

    Kirby KA: Effects of tibial varum and rearfoot varus on foot function. .Precision Intricast Newsletter (November.),1998. .

  • 41

    Lord JP: Correction of the extreme flatfoot: value of osteotomy of os calcis and inward displacement of posterior fragment. .JAMA 81::1502. ,1923. .

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • 42

    Koutsogiannis E: Treatment of mobile flat foot by displacement osteotomy of the calcaneus. .J Bone Joint Surg Br 53::96. ,1971. .

  • 43

    Jacobs AM, Geistler P: Posterior calcaneal osteotomy: effect, technique and indications. .Clin Podiatr Med Surg 8::647. ,1991. .

  • 44

    Myerson MS, Corrigan J, Thompson F, et al: Tendon transfer combined with calcaneal osteotomy for treatment of posterior tibial tendon insufficiency: a radiological investigation. .Foot Ankle Int 16::712. ,1995. .

    • PubMed
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • 45

    Myerson MS, Corrigan J: Treatment of posterior tibial tendon dysfunction with flexor digitorum tendon transfer and calcaneal osteotomy. .Orthopedics 19::383. ,1996. .

    • PubMed
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • 46

    Marks RM: Posterior tibial tendon reconstruction with medial displacement calcaneal osteotomy. .Foot Ankle Clin 1::295. ,1996. .

  • 47

    Thordarson DB, Hedman T, Lundquist D, et al: Effect of calcaneal osteotomy and plantar fasciotomy on arch configuration in a flatfoot model. .Foot Ankle Int 19::374. ,1998. .

    • PubMed
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • 48

    Catanzariti AR, Lee MS, Mendocino RW: Posterior calcaneal displacement osteotomy for adult acquired flatfoot. .J Foot Ankle Surg 39::2. ,2000. .

  • 49

    Fuller EA: Center of pressure and its theoretical relationship to foot pathology. .JAPMA 6::278. ,1999. .

  • 50

    Weissman SD: Radiology of the Foot, p 55, Williams & Wilkins, Baltimore, MD, 1983..

  • 51

    Evans D: Calcaneovalgus deformity. .J Bone Joint Surg Br 57::270. ,1975. .

  • 52

    Phillips GE: A review of elongation of os calcis for flat feet. .J Bone Joint Surg Br 65::15. ,1983. .

  • 53

    Anderson AF, Fowler SB: Anterior calcaneal osteotomy for symptomatic juvenile pes planus. .Foot Ankle 4::274. ,1984. .

  • 54

    Mahan KT, McGlamry ED: Evans calcaneal osteotomy for flexible pes valgus deformity. .Clin Podiatr Med Surg 4::137. ,1987. .

  • 55

    Sangeorzan BJ, Mosca V, Hansen ST: Effect of calcaneal lengthening on relationships among the hindfoot, midfoot, and forefoot. .Foot Ankle 14::136. ,1993. .

    • PubMed
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • 56

    Brim SP, Hecker R: The Evans calcaneal osteotomy: postoperative care and an evaluation on metatarsus adductus angle. .J Foot Ankle Surg 33::2. ,1994. .

Subtalar Joint Axis Location and Rotational Equilibrium Theory of Foot Function

Kevin A. Kirby Diplomate, American Board of Podiatric Orthopedics and Primary Podiatric Medicine; Assistant Clinical Professor, Department of Podiatric Biomechanics, California College of Podiatric Medicine, San Francisco, CA. Mailing address: 2626 N St, Sacramento, CA 95816.

Search for other papers by Kevin A. Kirby in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
 DPM
View More View Less

A new theory of foot function based on the spatial location of the subtalar joint axis in relation to the weightbearing structures of the plantar foot is proposed. The theory relies on the concept of subtalar joint rotational equilibrium to explain how externally generated forces, such as ground reaction force, and internally generated forces, such as ligamentous and tendon tensile forces and joint compression forces, affect the mechanical behavior of the foot and lower extremity. The biomechanical effect of variations among individuals in the spatial location of the subtalar joint axis are explored, along with their clinical consequences, to offer an additional theory of foot function, which may improve on existing podiatric biomechanics theory. (J Am Podiatr Med Assoc 91(9): 465-487, 2001)