Multi-segment foot motion during single limb toe raises in healthy individuals

Background The standing toe raise, or heel rise, requires ankle plantarflexor strength, and is often used to assess foot and ankle muscle function. There is limited research on the mechanics within the foot during this task. Houck et al., [1] found that hindfoot eversion/inversion was significantly different than controls during a bilateral toe raise task in patients with posterior tibialis tendon dysfunction. They concluded, however, that most differences in foot kinematics in this patient population occurred as an offset rather than a change in pattern of motion. However the kinematic patterns of motion during a unilateral toe raise task remain unknown. The purpose of this study was to describe the multi-segment foot kinematics during a single legged toe raise in adults without a history of foot disease.