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Updated: Oct 11, 2026

Diagnosis of Musculus Gastrocnemius Tightness - Key Factors for the Clinical Examination
Published on: July 7, 2016
[Results of podoscope screening in 948 non-selected children, with special reference to cavus foot]
A González de Aledo Linos1, A Rollán Rollán, C Bonilla Miera
1Servicio de Puericultura, Dirección Regional de Sanidad de Cantabria.
Objective:
To ascertain the prevalence of cavus foot in a non-selected pediatric population, the percentage of secondary forms and to establish criteria for remission to the specialist.
Patients And Methods:
A randomized study of 948 healthy children older than four years, in which the sole footprint was studied through podoscope, was performed.
Results:
Cavus foot of different grades was present in 16.3% of the children studied, with a statistically significant difference in favor of girls. There were family antecedents in 60%. Symptoms and/or exploratory abnormal signs were presented in 19.3%, mainly pain, limp and sole dermatitis. Of the diagnoses made, 7.7% were referred to the specialist, with the diagnosis confirmed in 75% and treatment implemented in 50%. There were no cases of secondary cavus foot.
Conclusions:
Cavus foot is very frequent in healthy children, has a familiar character and only exceptionally obeys the rules of a neuromuscular cause. We propose four criteria for the selection of patients for referral to the specialist.

