FOOT HEALTH 2013.

To Foot Type or Not to Foot Type Rob Bradbury Clinical Director Talar Made ltd

WHAT IS FOOT TYPING Genetic Physical shape of the foot Skeletal shape of foot Functional activity of the foot

GENETIC Major influence on foot type Inherited characteristics Affects bone shape Affects functional ability

PHYSICAL Foot shape has profound effect on function Intra uterine May be due to external forces Bone development changes Adaptive plasticity

SKELETAL SHAPE Many feet have similar skeletal bones Different function has lead to different shape Genetic can have an impact on bone/skeletal formation External forces can shape bones

FUNCTIONAL Normal/Neutral foot Is there such a thing? Pronating Rearfoot Forefoot Supinating

USING FOOT TYPING TO DETERMINE FUNCTIONAL TYPE Foot typing Scoring system Determines foot position Allows type to be shown Gives foot type Allows orthotic type to be shown Gives ability to treat easily

USING FOOT TYPE Based on Arch Height Low More likely to be pronating foot More flexible Medium May be classed as ‘normal or neutral’ May present with adaptations May present as mid foot pronators High More likely to be supinating foot Tend to be more rigid Require specific orthoses types to aid function

OTHER FACTORS Callous patterns Toe position Gait style

CONCLUSION Act as an adjunct to normal practice Enables repaid base assessment Can act to prioritise patient groups May enable patient sorting May help to determine potential injury types Not replacement for full assessment Research is ongoing Large prospective study (1000’s of subjects)

REFERENCES Foot type biomechanics; comparison of planus and rectus type. Song et al J Am Pod Med Ass. Visual Assessment of Foot Type and relationship of foo type to lower extremity injury Dahle et al J Orthopeadic Sports Physical Therapy

QUESTIONS