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Updated: May 7, 2026
A Novel Application of Musculoskeletal Ultrasound Imaging
Published on: September 17, 2013
First tarsometatarsal joint mobility in hallux valgus during gait: A synchronized ultrasound and three-dimensional
Tsubasa Tashiro1, Yasunari Ikuta2,3, Noriaki Maeda1
1Department of Sports Rehabilitation, Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima University, 1-2-3 Kasumi, Minami-Ku, Hiroshima, 734-8553, Japan.
Purpose:
To quantify the vertical translation between the first metatarsal and medial cuneiform during the stance phase of gait in young individuals with and without hallux valgus.
Design:
This cross-sectional observational study included 34 young adults (male, n = 4; female, n = 30) who were divided into three groups according to the hallux valgus angle: control (< 20°, n = 13), mild hallux valgus (≥ 20° to < 30°, n = 12), and moderate hallux valgus (≥ 30°, n = 9). The mobility of the first tarsometatarsal joint was evaluated during the stance phase using B-mode ultrasound synchronized with a motion analysis system.
Results:
The medial cuneiform shifted more plantar during the early phase in mild hallux valgus and during the middle and terminal phases in moderate hallux valgus than in control. The severity of the hallux valgus was correlated with a trend toward plantar shift of the medial cuneiform. The first metatarsal was located more dorsal than the medial cuneiform; however, there was no significant variation. No significant differences in the peak ankle plantarflexion angle and moment were noted between the groups.
Conclusion:
The hypermobility of the first tarsometatarsal joint, especially plantar displacement of the medial cuneiform in the sagittal plane, was found in young individuals with hallux valgus during the stance phase of gait, and the mobility increased with the severity of hallux valgus. Our findings suggest the significance of preventing hallux valgus deformity early in life.
