Human Locomotion
Research Articles
Dr. Michaud chooses clinically relevant articles & summarizes them for your educational reading pleasure.
Harutaichun P, Vongsirinavarat M, Pakpacorn P, et al. Can orthotic wedges change the lower-extremity and multi-segment foot kinematics during gait in people with plantar fasciitis? Gait & Posture 2022;97:174-183.
Plantar fasciitis is a common overuse syndrome that can take years to recover from. The authors of this paper theorized that you could effectively manage chronic plantar fasciitis by incorporating a 2-piece varus posting system placed beneath the patient’s insoles. The varus posts were made from solid rubber with a thin fabric cover and were available in 3 sizes depending on the person’s foot size. The authors incorporated various combinations of 3°, 6°, and 8° angled wedges and then measured...
Differences in foot muscle morphology and foot kinematics between symptomatic and asymptomatic pronated feet. Zhang et al. Scand J Med Sci Sports. 2019;00:1–8.
This was an interesting study in that researchers took 30 young physically active adults with pronated feet and divided them into two groups: one group with a history of prior injury, and another group that had not been injured. The authors analyzed three-dimensional motion during the gait cycle, and used ultrasonography to measure cross-sectional area of the peroneal muscles, flexor digitorum longus and brevis, and the abductor hallucis muscles. The authors concluded the symptomatic pronators...
The effectiveness of a balance training intervention in reducing the incidence of noncontact ankle sprains in high school football players. McHugh M, et al. Am J Sports Med 2007, 35;8:1289.
This is one of my all-time favorite ways to improve balance and/or prevent ankle injuries. In this study, researchers followed 125 high school football players for anywhere from 1 to 4 seasons. Players were classified as low-, moderate-, or high-risk for reinjury, depending upon their body mass index and/or their prior history of ankle sprain. The authors note that at the start of the study, the overweight, previously injured football players were 19 times more likely to be injured than the...
Effects of two types of 9-month adapted physical activity program on muscle mass, muscle strength, and balance in moderate sarcopenic older women. Piastra G, et al. BioMed Research International Volume 2018 (Open Access).
In this study, 72 older adults were randomly assigned to a strength training program or a postural training program. Both the strength training and postural programs were performed twice per week for 36 weeks with each session lasting 60 minutes. The strengths training program consisted of a brief warm-up, followed by low/moderate intensity exercises for both the upper and lower extremities. Postural exercises consisted of a wide range of stretches and mobilizations, including “spine...
Successful 10-second one-legged stance performance predicts survival in middle-aged and older individuals. Araujo C, et al. Br J Sports Med 2021.
In this study, 1702 individuals between the ages of 51 and 75 were followed for 12 years. At the start of the study, subjects were asked to stand on one leg and balance with their eyes open for 10 seconds. To ensure consistency, subjects were told to keep their arms at their sides with their elbows straight and to fix their gaze on an eye-level point that was 6 feet away. To reduce compensatory movements, they were told to place the top of the non-support foot on the back of the opposite...