By P.K. Daniel
Individuals with femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) demonstrate alterations in foot mechanics as well as hip mechanics, a finding that may have implications for orthotic management of this population, according to an Israeli study.
Researchers from Tel Aviv University and the Wingate Institute in Netanya compared 3D gait kinematics for a cohort of 15 men with cam-type FAI and 15 healthy men.
The group with FAI had less pelvic internal rotation and hip abduction at heel strike than controls. The FAI group also had less maximum eversion during stance than controls, as well as an inverted hindfoot position at heel strike, compared with a neutral hindfoot position in the control group. The results were epublished in August by Clinical Biomechanics.
The study authors noted that, although the research and management of FAI has primarily focused on alterations in pelvic and hip mechanics rather than distal articulations, their findings suggest this population may benefit from custom-made foot orthoses to prevent the injurious effects of hindfoot malalignment on load attenuation during stance.
Source:
Hetsroni I, Funk S, Ben-Sira D, et al. Femoroacetabular impingement syndrome is associated with alterations in hindfoot mechanics: A three-dimensional gait analysis study. Clin Biomech 2015 Aug 21. [Epub ahead of print]
