ABSTRACT
References..............................................................................................................653
Historically, foot biomechanics has not received the attention that has been received by hip and knee biomechanics. This is due, in large part, to two factors: the hindfoot and midfoot are structures that must be analyzed in three dimensions whereas the hip and knee are amenable to two-dimensional analyses, e.g., in the sagittal and frontal planes; and, unlike the hip and knee joints, painful disorders of the hindfoot
and midfoot joints can be often be treated with fusions without the functional limitations associated with a hip or knee fusion. The foot with its many joints can more readily compensate for the loss of motion of some of its joints. Adequate models to study the mechanical and functional properties of the foot are necessary in order to understand normal and pathological mechanics and to develop more effective treatments for foot disorders.
