Basic Terms

• Proximal and Distal
  
  

• Body planes
  -Transverse, Frontal, Sagital
  
  

• Joint Axes and Motion
  
  

• Motions of the foot
  -Inversion, eversion
  -Abduction, adduction
  -Supination Plantarflexion, dorsiflexion
  -Pronation

Eversion

frontal plane movement, when the foot twists outward and downward (sole away from midline)

Inversion

frontal plane movement, when the foot twists inward and upward (sole toward midline)

Abduction

transverse plane movement, when the foot rotates laterally (away from midline), out-toe

Adduction

transverse plane movement, when the foot rotates medially (toward the midline), in-toe

Dorsiflexion

sagittal plane movement, when the foot moves upwards, toward the tibia

Plantarflexion

sagittal plane movement, when the foot moves downwards, away from the front of the tibia

Pronation

Pronated - an adjective which describes the position of the foot relative to the neutral position

abduction dorsiflexion eversion mobile adapter or loose bag of bones (measured in degrees of eversion)

What is pronation? Pronation is simply a normal foot in motion, from foot-strike on the outside of the heel through the inward roll of the foot. Pronation occurs as the foot rolls from the outer edge to the inner edge. Everyone pronates, and the initial pronation is considered an important and healthy response to the intense amount of shock imposed upon the foot and is integral to propelling you forward. If the foot pronates too much or too little and does so frequently, several biomechanical problems may result that will cause a decrease in performance and increase the possibility of injury. What is over-pronation? Over-pronators generally land in a pronated position and continue to roll significantly inward as they go from heel strike to toe off. They exhibit excessive inward motion and are best served with motion-control shoes (Men's | Women's) which assist in controlling the excessive inward motion of the shoe. What is under-pronation? Under-pronators generally land in a significantly supinated position and experience very little pronation, meaning from impact to toe-off their foot rolls inward less that the norm. They do not have enough inward motion and therefore can benefit from cushioned-based shoes, and lightweight performance shoes, which allow and promote the foot to follow the natural pronation movement. How to tell what I am? The easiest way to determine your gait is by looking at one of your used pair of shoes. Place the shoes side by side on a table, toes pointing away from you. Look at the shoes from eye-level and you should be able to see one of three scenarios... If the shoes have a slight or significant inward tilt, then you exhibit an over-pronation gait. If the shoes have a slight or significant outward tilt, then you exhibit an under-pronation (supination) gait. If the shoes appear to be neutral and do not tilt inward nor out, then you exhibit a pronation-neutral gait.

Supination

Supinated - an adjective which describes the position of the foot relative to the neutral position

adduction plantarflexion inversion rigid lever (measured in degrees of inversion)