Relationship between the subtalar joint inclination angle and the location of lower-extremity injuries

This study hypothesized that individuals who have a history of knee pain during repetitive weightbearing activities have a higher subtalar joint inclination angle than those with a history of foot pain. Study participants were selected on the basis of results of a written questionnaire that asked about the site and cause of injury and pain frequency and intensity. Pain items were graded on a 7-point Likert scale. Subjects were mainly young (18 to 32 years of age), healthy university students who had a history of knee pain (knee group) or foot pain (foot group) during weightbearing activity. Both foot and lower-leg kinematic data were used to estimate the magnitude of each participant's subtalar joint inclination angle. These data were obtained while participants performed a series of open- and closed-kinetic-chain motions. The subtalar joint inclination angle was significantly greater for the knee group than for the foot group. The results of this study support the hypothesis that a higher subtalar joint inclination angle may predispose an individual to knee pain, and a lower subtalar joint inclination angle to foot pain.