Range of Motion in the Foot
Welcome back to another instalment in our Knee & Foot Series!
Similar to yesterday, we’re back looking at Ranges of Motion. Yesterday we looked at the ROM within the knee joint and today we’ll be looking at ROM in the foot.
Active ROM:
During active range of motion, you’re asking your client to move their foot through plantar flexion, dorsiflexion, inversion and eversion. During these tasks, it’s important for you to ask your client to let you know if and when they feel pain, or discomfort.
Active ROM is used to test the non-contractile and contractile structures.
Contractile structures are tissues which are capable of contracting either on demand or involuntarily – Such as the muscle belly.
Non-Contractile structures are all of the other tissues, like your bones, ligaments, joint capsules etc…
Passive ROM:
Passive ROM is used to test the non-contractile structures which, as explained above are your joint capsules, ligaments, nerves and their sheaths, bursae, and cartilage.
During Passive ROM, the client is allowing you to move their body. Therefore, you will not be feeling for contraction of any muscles since you are doing the work for them. This type of ROM is for the practitioner to feel for the quality of end range within the joint.
You’ll be feeling for any limitation of motion. When you find that passive end of range, you’ll be feeling for the quality of the tissue resistance to the motion.
Resisted ROM:
This type of ROM testing is looking at the strength of the contractile tissues – This being the muscles, tendons and attachments.
For Resisted ROM, you can either ask the client to contract the muscles whilst the practitioner resists or prevents movement from happening or the practitioner applies pressure against the client’s contraction so that the client is preventing movement from happening.
Why is it important to look at mobility in the foot?
How many of your clients have you seen where they’ve either had a history of sprains, they’ve tripped or fallen or they just have general foot pain when walking? Chances are, you’ll have at least one example fitting that description…
At Pilates Therapy, we aim to provide you with really simple yet effective screens which will allow you to pick up on any pain, discomfort or asymmetries.
Any of these could be indications that you would need to refer your client on to their GP or physiotherapist to rule out anything which might require attention. As Pilates Therapists, we’re not here to diagnose nor replace the need for medical treatment of any kind. We are here to observe movement and support these practitioners.
Knowing what type of movement is restricted or limited can be the key to unlocking pain-free movement and optimal movement patterning.
What’s the goal?
During these screens you’re really looking for an even range of motion between both feet and in all directions. Ideally, there should be no pain, weakness, popping, grinding or clicking.
But if there is, it’s important to determine which movement makes this happen, assess the quality of motion as well as note the intensity and location to which the movement causes that pain or restriction.
Tell me more…
During our knee and foot courses, we teach this screen amongst many more! But we also delve deeper into this and explore what happens next…
If this has piqued your interest, or you think your classes and clients could benefit from this type of screening and knowledge – then why not join us one of our knee and foot weekend courses? For more information, please visit our Courses page or you can email us at info@pilatestherapy.co.uk
