Measurement of Dorsal Mobility in the First Ray: Elimination of Fat Pad Compression as a Variable

Abstract

Previous designs for a device to measure first ray mobility have included compression of the first metatarsal fat pad as part of the measurement of displacement or have failed to standardize the force applied to the head of the first metatarsal. In this investigation, assessment of vertical mobility of the first ray of both feet in 14 volunteers was determined using a device that applied dorsiflexing force to the first metatarsal. First ray displacement was measured initially from the plantar surface and then from the dorsal aspect of the head of the first metatarsal. The difference between plantar- and dorsal-surface-measured vertical displacement was highly significant. This study suggests that mobility of the first ray measured from the dorsal aspect of the first metatarsal head eliminated compression of the plantar fat pad from being interpreted as part of the measurement of displacement.

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

1. Bartko

J.J.

: On various intraclass correlation reliability coefficients. Psychol. Bull., 83: 762–765, 1976.

2. Bennett

M.B.

Ker

R.F.

: The mechanical properties of the human subcalcaneal fat pad in compression. J. Anat, 171: 131–138, 1990.

3. Birke

J.A.

Franks

D.B.

Foto

J.G.

: First ray joint limitation, pressure, and ulceration of the first metatarsal head in diabetes mellitus. Foot Ankle Int., 16: 277–284, 1995.

4. Blesh

T.E.

: Measurement in Physical Education, Ed. 2. New York, Ronald Press, 1974.

5. Boijsen Moller

Flagstad

K.E.

: Plantar aponeurosis and internal architecture of the ball of the foot. J. Anat., 121: 599–611, 1976.

6. Boijsen Moller

Lamoreaux

: Significance of free dorsiflexion of the toes in walking. Acta. Orthop. Scand., 50: 471–479, 1976.

7. Dananberg

H.J.

: Interpreting computerized gait analysis of foot functions: part II. J. Current Podiatr. Med., 5: 28–30, 1990.

8. Dananberg

H.J.

: Gait style as an etiology to chronic postural pain: part, functional hallux limitus. J. Am. Podiatr. Med. Assoc, 83: 433–441, 1993.

9. Dananberg

H.J.

: Gait style as an etiology to chronic postural pain: part II, postural compensatory process. J. Am. Podiatr. Med. Assoc, 83: 615–624, 1993.

10.

10. Donatelli

R.A.

: Normal biomechanics of the foot and ankle. J. Orthop. Sports Phys. Ther., 7: 91–95, 1985.

11.

11. Donatelli

R.A.

: The Biomechanics of the Foot and Ankle, Ed. 2. Philadelphia, F. A. Davis, 1996, pp. 34–72.

12.

12. Fritz

G.R.

Prieskorn

: First metatarsocuneiform motion: a radiographic and statistical analysis. Foot Ankle Int., 16: 117–123, 1995.

13.

13. Glasoe

W.M.

: Reliability and validation testing for a first ray measurement device [master's thesis]. Iowa City, Iowa, The University of Iowa, 1997.

14.

14. Hicks

J.H.

: The mechanics of the foot: I., the joints. J. Anat., 87: 345–357, 1953.

15.

15. Jorgensen

: Achillodynia and loss of heel pad shock absorbency. Am. J. Sports Med., 13: 128–132, 1985.

16.

16. Jorgensen

Ekstran

: The significance of heel pad confinement for the shock absorption at heel strike. Int. J. Sports Med., 9: 468–473, 1988.

17.

17. Klaue

Hansen

S.T.

Masquelet

A.C.

: Clinical quantitative assessment of first tarsometatarsal mobility in the sagittal plane and its relation to hallux valgus deformity. Foot Ankle Int., 15: 9–13, 1994.

18.

18. Ledoux

W.R.

DeLott

J.M.

Miller

Hillstrom

H.J.

: Evaluation of the distributed plantar vertical force in rectus and pes planus foot types. Gait Posture, 5: 150, 1997.

19.

19. Novick

: Anatomy and Biomechanics. In Hunt

G.C.

McPoil

T.G.

(Eds.)., Clinics in Physical Therapy: Physical Therapy of the Foot and Ankle, Ed. 2. New York, Churchill Livingstone, 1995, pp. 34–46.

20.

20. Prieskom

D.W.

Mann

R.A.

Fritz

: Radiographic assessment of the second metatarsal: measure of first ray hyper-mobility. Foot Ankle Int., 17: 331–333, 1996.

21.

21. Rodgers

M.M.

Cavanagh

P.R.

: A device for the measurement of first ray mobility Proceedings of the North American Congress on Biomechanics, Montreal, Canada, August 1986, pp. 205–206.

22.

22. Saltzman

C.L.

Nawoczenski

D.A.

: Complexities of foot architecture as a base of support. J. Orthop. Sports Phys. Ther., 21: 354–360, 1995.

23.

23. Viladot

: The metatarsals, In Wickland

E.H.

(ed.), Disorders of the Foot & Ankle, Ed. 2. Philadelphia, W. B. Saunders, 1991, pp. 1229–1254.