Bilateral and unilateral increases in calcaneal eversion affect pelvic alignment in standing position.

Area of Science:

• Biomechanics
• Kinesiology
• Musculoskeletal Health

Background:

• Excessive foot pronation is linked to low back pain, potentially due to altered lumbopelvic alignment.
• The specific impact of foot pronation on pelvic alignment during standing requires further clarification.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the influence of increased calcaneal eversion on pelvic alignment in the sagittal and frontal planes.
• To establish a quantitative relationship between foot pronation and pelvic positioning.

Main Methods:

• Utilized a Motion Analysis System to capture pelvic and calcaneal positions in 14 healthy subjects.
• Employed medially tilted wedges (10 degrees) to induce unilateral and bilateral calcaneal eversion in controlled standing conditions.
• Applied repeated measures ANOVAs with Bonferroni corrections for statistical analysis.

Main Results:

• Medially tilted wedges significantly increased calcaneal eversion unilaterally and bilaterally (P<0.01).
• Increased calcaneal eversion led to significant pelvic anteversion (1.57° bilateral, 1.41° unilateral; P<0.003).
• Unilateral calcaneal eversion resulted in significant pelvic lateral tilt (1.46°; P<0.001).

Conclusions:

• Excessive calcaneal eversion during standing demonstrably alters pelvic alignment, including anteversion and lateral tilt.
• These findings highlight the importance of considering foot posture in the assessment of pelvic misalignments.
• Understanding the foot-pelvis connection offers insights into the biomechanical pathways contributing to low back pain.