Kinematics of the ankle/foot complex--Part 3: Influence of leg rotation.

In an in vivo kinematical investigation, the movements of the ankle/food complex induced by external rotation of the leg from an internally rotated position were analyzed by roentgen stereophotogrammetry. Radiopaque markers were introduced into the tibia, talus, calcaneus, navicular, medial cuneiform, and first metatarsal bones of eight healthy volunteers. Rotations occurring between these bones after 10 degrees increments of leg rotation were calculated in three dimensions. Movement of the leg from an internally rotated position to the neutral was found to induce motion mainly as internal rotation of the talus in relation to the tibia. Further external rotation induced motion mainly in the talonavicular and talocalcaneal joints, whereas a smaller amount of motion was seen in the joint between the navicular and the medial cuneiform.