The effect of posture on the osseous relations in the foot

• In clinical practice patients are often positioned in different ways for a weightbearing foot X-ray.
• Foot angles are significantly affected by postures.
• Percentage weight on the foot and weight distribution over the foot influences the osseous relations in the foot.
• Standardization of a patients’ posture during radiographing is necessary.

BackgroundDiscrepancies observed between clinical findings and a weightbearing foot X-ray might be caused by a patients’ positioning. This study's main objective was to determine the effect of a subjects’ posture on the osseous relations of the foot.MethodsAnatomical markers were placed on the skin of the foot of 17 subjects. A plantar pressure plate assessed the percentage weight on the foot and weight distribution over the foot. Medial longitudinal foot angles were derived from the markers and compared between the 10 postures. The effect of percentage weight and weight distribution on the foot angles was determined by multiple regression analysis.ResultsThe foot angles were significantly affected by the postures. The multiple regression analysis revealed the weight on the foot and the mediolateral weight distribution over the foot as important factors for the foot angles.ConclusionA subjects posture significantly influences the osseous relations in the foot.