ABSTRACT
Running is an integral part of the physical activity habits of many people. Various studies suggest that injuries of the lower extremities may be a consequence of high ground reaction force and pressure overload at different locations on the underside of the foot (Winter et al., 1992; Hennig and Milani, 1995; Beck, 1998). Despite an increased focus on the prevention of running injuries, injuries resulting from overuse are still rather frequent. It is important therefore, to identify the cause of the injury and treat the cause, not merely the symptoms. When injuries caused by overuse of the lower limbs are diagnosed in athletes, the structure and function of the foot should be examined. Many running injuries are manifestations of dysfunction of the kinetic chain especially among those patients with recurrent injuries. One of the suggested causes of such injuries is an asymmetric distribution of the external loads between the right and left lower extremities (Herzog et al., 1989). Therefore, it is important to identify asymmetry during the stance phase, and to locate extreme forces or pressure imbalances.
