The relationship between transverse plane leg rotation and transverse plane motion at the knee and hip during normal walking

The purpose of this study was to test the clinical hypothesis that the magnitude and temporal characteristics of rearfoot complex motion are closely correlated with those of the transverse plane motion at the knee and hip. Twenty subjects underwent kinematic assessment during walking at 108 steps/minute. The transverse plane rotation of the leg relative to the foot was used to indicate rearfoot complex pronation and supination. Taking into account errors inherent in kinematic assessment involving skin mounted markers, it is unlikely that a correlation exists between the range of internal leg rotation during the contact phase and the total range of transverse plane leg rotation during gait and the corresponding values for the transverse plane motion at the knee and hip. Correlation tests were performed to assess the temporal characteristics of the motions at the joints that showed that there was no correlation between the transverse plane motion in the rearfoot complex, knee and hip. Thus the hypothesis that the magnitude and temporal characteristics of rearfoot complex motion are closely correlated with the transverse plane motion at the knee and hip was rejected.