Pressure Distribution in the Ankle and Subtalar Joint With Routine and Oversized Foot Orthoses

Foot orthoses are used to treat many disorders that affect the lower limb. These assistive devices have the potential to alter the forces, load distribution, and orientation within various joints in the foot and ankle. This study attempts to quantify the effects of orthoses on the intra-articular force distribution of the ankle and subtalar joint using a cadaveric testing jig to simulate weight bearing.

Five lower-limb cadaveric specimens were placed on a custom jig, where a 334-N (75-lb) load was applied at the femoral head, and the foot was supported against a plate to simulate double-leg stance. Pressure-mapping sensors were inserted into the ankle and subtalar joint. Mean pressure, peak pressure, contact area, and center of force were measured in both the ankle and subtalar joints for barefoot and 2 medial foot orthosis conditions. The 2 orthosis conditions were performed using (1) a 1.5-cm-height wedge to simulate normal orthoses and (2) a 3-cm-height wedge to simulate oversized orthoses.

The contact area experienced in the subtalar joint significantly decreased during 3-cm orthotic posting of the medial arch, but neither orthosis had a significant effect on the spatial mean pressure or peak pressure experienced in either joint.

The use of an oversized orthosis could lead to a decrease in the contact area and alterations in the distribution of pressure within the subtalar joint.

The use of inappropriate orthoses could negatively impact the force distribution in the lower limb.