Metatarsal Loading During Gait-A Musculoskeletal Analysis.

Area of Science:

• Biomechanics
• Musculoskeletal System Research
• Human Gait Analysis

Background:

• Understanding musculoskeletal loading is crucial for treating foot and lower limb disorders.
• Limited data exists on forces acting on individual foot bones during locomotion.
• Previous research has focused more on major lower limb joints than the foot's intricate structure.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compute the loads experienced by metatarsal bones during normal gait in healthy individuals.
• To utilize a detailed musculoskeletal model for analyzing foot bone loading patterns.
• To quantify forces at the metatarsophalangeal (MTP) and tarsometatarsal (TMT) joints during walking.

Main Methods:

• Employed motion-captured gait trials from four healthy subjects.
• Utilized computed tomography (CT) scans of the foot for detailed anatomical data.
• Performed inverse dynamic simulations to calculate joint loads on the metatarsals.

Main Results:

• The first metatarsal bone experienced peak loads of 1.9 times body weight (BW) before toe-off.
• The first tarsometatarsal (TMT) joint showed peak loads of 3.0 times BW during stance.
• Loads were predominantly in the longitudinal direction, with the first ray bearing higher forces than rays 2-5.

Conclusions:

• The first ray (first metatarsal and associated joints) is subjected to substantial loads during gait.
• These findings provide critical data for understanding foot function and designing interventions for foot injuries.
• The study underscores the importance of considering specific bone loading in the foot for clinical applications.