Foot pronation affects pelvic motion during the loading response phase of gait

• Published in: Revista brasileira de fisioterapia (São Carlos (São Paulo, Brazil)) Vol. 25; no. 6; pp. 727 - 734
• Main Authors: Hornestam, Joana Ferreira, Arantes, Paula Maria Machado, Souza, Thales Rezende, Resende, Renan Alves, Aquino, Cecilia Ferreira, Fonseca, Sergio Teixeira, da Silva, Paula Lanna Pereira
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Brazil Elsevier España, S.L.U 01.11.2021; Associação Brasileira de Pesquisa e Pós-Graduação em Fisioterapia
• Subjects: Biomechanical Phenomena; Biomechanics; Foot; Foot pronation; Gait; Humans; Kinematics; Original Research; Pelvic motion; Physical therapy; Pronation; Shoes; Walking; Biomechanics; Pelvic motion; Gait; Foot pronation; Physical therapy; Kinematics
• ISSN: 1413-3555; 1809-9246
• DOI: 10.1016/j.bjpt.2021.04.005

•Bilateral increased foot pronation affects pelvic kinematics during walking.•Increased pronation modifies pelvic motion during the loading response phase of gait.•Bilateral increased foot pronation increased mean pelvic contralateral drop.•Bilateral increased pronation reduced pelvic range of motion in the frontal plane.•Increased pronation reduced mean pelvic rotation towards the contralateral side. Increased foot pronation during walking has been associated with low back pain. This association may be due to the impact of increased pronation on pelvic motion. To investigate the effects of increased bilateral foot pronation on pelvic kinematic in frontal and transverse planes during the loading response phase of gait. Pelvic, hip, and foot angular positions of 20 participants were collected while they walked at fast speed wearing flat and medially inclined insoles inserted in the shoes. Pelvic motion in frontal and transverse planes was analyzed during the loading response phase. Foot eversion-inversion was analyzed during the complete stance phase to verify the insoles effectiveness in inducing increased pronation and to exclude excessive pronators. Inclined insoles were effective in inducing increased foot pronation. Pelvic and hip motion were altered in the increased pronation condition compared to the control condition. In the frontal plane, mean pelvic position was more inclined to the contralateral side (mean difference [MD]: 0.54°; 95%CI: 0.23, 0.86) and its range of motion (ROM) was reduced (MD: 0.50°; 95%CI: 0.20, 0.79). In the transverse plane, mean pelvic position was less rotated toward the contralateral leg (MD: 1.03°; 95%CI: 0.65, 1.60) without changes in ROM (MD: 0.04°; 95%CI: -0.17, 0.25). The hip was more internally rotated (MD: 1.37°; 95%CI: 0.76, 1.98) without changes in ROM (MD: 0.10°; 95%CI: -1.02, 1.23). Increased bilateral foot pronation changes pelvic motion during walking and should be assessed, as a contributing factor to possible pelvic and lower back disorders.