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Relationship between static and dynamic foot postures in professional baseball players.
R Donatelli1, M Wooden, S R Ekedahl
1Physiotherapy Associates, Alpharetta, Ga.
The Journal of Orthopaedic and Sports Physical Therapy
|June 17, 1999
Summary
Static and dynamic foot postures in professional baseball players were studied. While forefoot varus and calcaneal valgus correlated with pronation, excessive pronation did not significantly contribute to lower extremity overuse injuries.
Area of Science:
- Sports Medicine
- Biomechanics
- Podiatry
Background:
- Professional baseball players face risks of overuse injuries due to repetitive running, cutting, and sprinting.
- Foot function breakdown can occur during a season, leading to lower extremity injuries.
Purpose of the Study:
- Investigate the relationship between static and dynamic foot postures in baseball players.
- Determine the prevalence of abnormal foot postures and lower extremity overuse injuries.
- Compare foot postures between pitchers and positional players.
Main Methods:
- Evaluated static and dynamic foot postures in 74 professional baseball players at rest and during gait.
- Utilized goniometry for static measures and the FootTrak system for dynamic analysis.
- Collected injury history via questionnaire and analyzed associations using chi-square tests.
Main Results:
- Forefoot varus and calcaneal valgus were significantly linked to maximum pronation during gait.
- 43% of players with excessive pronation reported prior lower extremity injuries.
- No significant differences in foot posture were found between injured and uninjured players or by player position.
Conclusions:
- Static foot posture measures may predict dynamic foot movement during gait.
- Excessive pronation was not identified as a significant factor in overuse injuries among the studied baseball players.