Development of a new gait evaluation system for people with hallux valgus, focusing on the force vector exerted by the foot on the floor

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K19153
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 58070:Lifelong developmental nursing-related
• Research Institution: Kansai University of Welfare Sciences
• Principal Investigator: ARISUE IORI 関西福祉科学大学, 保健医療学部, 講師 (60735520)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 足趾 / 歩行

Outline of Final Research Achievements

This study examines young adult females with mild hallux valgus to analyze changes in the anterior-posterior and vertical components of the toes and metatarsal heads during walking. A new gait analysis method is proposed to improve toe movement interventions and assessments. Study 1 found that individuals with a larger hallux valgus angle had delayed peak times in the anterior-posterior and vertical components of the floor reaction force vector. Study 2 showed high cross-correlation coefficients for the anterior-posterior direction in each gait cycle segment. Subjects with a larger hallux valgus angle maintained high coefficients even before stopping, while those with a smaller angle had coefficients between 0.4 and 0.7. These findings suggest that larger hallux valgus angles delay foot control timing and complicate forefoot control during push-off.

Free Research Field

生体医工学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究により，母趾外反角による足部アライメントの崩れによって，足部制御のタイミングが遅くなり，ピーク時間が集まっており，蹴り出し時に前足部の個別の制御が困難となることを示した．また、外反角が大きい対象者では歩き始めの調整は母趾で行うが母趾変形によって前足部の使い方のバリエーションが少なく、外反角が小さい対象者では歩き初めの調整は母趾で行い，停止前では各部位の前後方向で調整している可能性を示した．これらの成果によって、軽度外反母趾者の歩行時における足趾や中足骨頭の床押力ベクトルの傾向を示すことができた。この歩行評価方法は，足趾運動介入やインソール後の前足部の使い方の評価となる可能性がある．