Since forums are all about sharing personal experiences, this information was helpful for me. Thanks, Gait Guys!
The Gait Guys
A Pedograph mapping case
Loss of medial tripod
The Gait Guys
Pathomechanics of the FootWe, as clinicians, like to assume that MOST FEET have a range of motion that folks are not using, which may be due to muscle weakness, ligamentous tightness, pathomechanics, joint fixation, etc. Our 1st job is to examine test the feet and make sure they are competent. Then and only then, after a trial of therapy and exercise, would you consider any type of more permanent “shoe prescription”.
If the individual has a rigid deformity, then you MAY consider a shoe that “brings the ground up” to the foot. Often time we find, with diligent effort on your and the individuals part, that a shoe with motion control features is not needed.
PDF: Pathomechanics of Structural Foot Deformitiesthe most clinically common pathomechanical abnormality.
Forefoot Varus and Overpronation by James SpeckA forefoot varus is a very destructive deformity and is encountered frequently in patients with lower extremity dysfunction
Forefoot varusForefoot varus is the angling or inverted position of the bones in the front of the foot in relation to the heel. A true forefot varus is a structural deformity involving the shape and alignment of the bones in the foot. A flexible forefoot varus position is more accurately called supinatus. ...
The forefoot varus angle is only going to respond to corrective exercises if muscle weakness and soft tissue tightness are the cause. ...
The goal of any exercise for correcting forefoot varus then is to strengthen the muscles that pull the base of the big toe down to the ground to stabilize the arch, while the heel is held in a stable position to prevent it from everting. ...
In some ways this is what the short foot exercise does.
to improve their ability to plantarflex the first metatarsalIncreased heel pressure, Uncompensated forefoot varus (as evidenced by a lack of ink under the first metatarsals (you could even put a Rothbart foot-type on your DDx list), increased clawing of the 2nd-3rd digits on the right, and bilateral Morton’s second toes.
This works well on Forefoot varus feet that are flexible and have some skills left in their playbook. Increasing the skill, endurance and strength (our 3 tenants, S.E.S.) of the extensors (both short and long, EHL & EHB) will help to drop the first metatarsal into plantarflexion.
Loss of medial tripod