Effect of Medial Arch Support on Displacement of the Myotendinous Junction of the Gastrocnemius During Standing Wall Stretching

The potential of ultrasonography in the evaluation of foot orthotics therapy

“…The muscle-tendon's architecture is consistent with the measurement of geometrical parameters as muscle length and thickness, fibre and fascicle length, pennation angle, physiological cross-sectional area, and myotendinous junction displacement [17,22]. In a randomised controlled trial based on 28 subjects with pes planus divided into two equal groups (one using only foot orthotics and the other using foot orthotics and foot exercise) Jung et al demonstrated that, in an eight week period of time, both groups show an increasing of the cross sectional area (CSA) of the abductor hallucis (AbdH) muscle and of the strength of flexor hallucis compared with the baseline situation [23].…”

“…The authors concluded that there is a potential for minimizing the stress in MG as a result of a controlled laboratory study with 30 subjects divided into two groups (15 with pes planus and 15 with normal feet classified depending on navicular drop and resting calcaneal stance values) [22]. In the case of subjects with pes planus this effect can be explained through an increased length of the gastrocnemius as a result of stretching exercises while the subtalar joint was maintained in the neutral position based on the use of the arch support [22]. Analyzing the effect of three types of shoes (neutral, motion control, and minimalist) on the plantar fascia and intrinsic muscle morphology in a cross-sectional study Zang X et al conclude that the motion control shoes had increased the thickness of both the proximal plantar fascia (PF) and abductor digiti minimi (AbdM) when compared with minimalist shoe effect in a group of 21 recreational runners [24].…”

“…It could be hypothesized that changing the rotational equilibrium or muscle imbalance through foot orthotics therapy, a potential influence on the foot tendon's size [22,23] may arise; this may be linked with the tendon's loading and modified activity related to compensatory movements [48]. Modelling the force production in striated (skeletal) muscle embraces different specific parameters related to the muscle's architecture (physiological cross-sectional area, volume, fibre pennation angle and length) and physical and mechanical properties of the tissue (density, elasticity).…”

“…The results of the study provide evidence against the hypothesis that the muscular atrophy may be induced by wearing rigid foot orthotics. Jung et al have used ultrasound measurements of the displacement of the medial gastrocnemius' (MG) myotendinous junction and video gait analysis of the rearfoot position in standing wall stretching exercises with and without a medial arch support [22]. The authors concluded that there is a potential for minimizing the stress in MG as a result of a controlled laboratory study with 30 subjects divided into two groups (15 with pes planus and 15 with normal feet classified depending on navicular drop and resting calcaneal stance values) [22].…”

“…Jung et al have used ultrasound measurements of the displacement of the medial gastrocnemius' (MG) myotendinous junction and video gait analysis of the rearfoot position in standing wall stretching exercises with and without a medial arch support [22]. The authors concluded that there is a potential for minimizing the stress in MG as a result of a controlled laboratory study with 30 subjects divided into two groups (15 with pes planus and 15 with normal feet classified depending on navicular drop and resting calcaneal stance values) [22]. In the case of subjects with pes planus this effect can be explained through an increased length of the gastrocnemius as a result of stretching exercises while the subtalar joint was maintained in the neutral position based on the use of the arch support [22].…”