The Application of Morton's Observations to Contemporary Treatment of Foot Dysfunction

Understanding the evolution of the human foot from a flexible grasping structure to one that is designed for upright posture and locomotion is paramount to treating patients with foot pain and dysfunction. Almost 100 years ago, Dudley Morton observed that certain retained atavistic traits are responsible for pathologic breakdown of the modern foot. Cadaveric research under the direction of Jeffrey Christensen provided evidence that lengthening the gastrocnemius and stabilizing the medial column helped correct the faulty biomechanics associated with Morton foot and corroborated Hansen's blueprint for reconstructive surgery of the foot and ankle.