The study about position sense of human feet

Abstract

To determine the accuracy of foot position sense in the means of foot placement, young adults were asked to place either medial edge or lateral edge of their feet along the base line on the floor as close as possible, and the edge of placed feet were scanned by using laser displacement gauge. From the collected data, constant error, the distances between the edge of placed feet and the base line on the floor, and absolute error, the absolute distances between the edge of placed feet and the base line on the floor were defined and compared between the medial or lateral trials, and dominant leg or indominant leg. The statistical analysis showed significant differences of constant error between the trials only. The trials to place their medial edge tend to place their feet away from the base line, and the trials to place their lateral edge tend to place their feet in to the base line. These results indicate that we tend to expect the position of our feet more medially than actual, and these discrepancy may be one of a reasons of tripping or banging of our feet to the obstacles while walking.