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Navicular stress fracture injury: observational use of plantar pressure measures in elite AFL footballers

Background

Navicular stress fracture (NSF) is a relatively uncommon injury according to Australian Rules Football (AFL) injury surveillance data. Like all stress fractures, a disproportionate amount of compression / strain (dose) versus remodeling (response) accounts for bone breakdown. The exact mechanism of injury or anthropometric factors involved in navicular stress fracture remains largely unknown however; several authors speculate a short first metatarsal and metatarsus adductus as contributing factors. It is thought that a long second metatarsal transmits forces unevenly through the medial cuneiform creating shearing stress at the avascular central zone of the navicular. To date no prospective data is available to support these theories. Navicular stress fracture is deemed high risk due to the potential of delayed or non union and often excessive time away from activity.

Methods

Retrospective plantar pressure mapping of two elite AFL footballers who’d sustained NSF injury were recorded. Testing involved unshod across a floor mounted pressure sensing mat (EMED SF™, Novel Munich Germany) using a two-step method following familiarisation. Five (5) trials were performed for each foot with the averages of the middle three (3) trials used for further analyses. Subsequent testing using an in-shoe pressure mapping system, (EMED ™ Pedar,Novel Munich Germany) was performed with custom moulded foot orthoses in situ. Data from twenty (20) steps were recorded, allowing for acceleration and deceleration with the middle ten (10) steps used for further analyses. Computer software generated data for Peak Pressure across 10 masked areas (kPa), Instant to Peak Pressure (ms), Contact Area (cm2), Force and Pressure Time Integrals were used for further anaylsis.

Results

Analysis of the derived variables demonstrated distinct asymmetries in plantar foot loading in both subjects. Between-subject similarities exist in terms of elevated Peak Pressure (kPa) beneath the 2nd metatarsophalangeal joint on the injured limb. Subject 1, demonstrates a deviation between the 1st and 2nd digit as a consequence of metatarsus primus adductus. Plantar pressure mapping depicted relative length differentials between the hallux and 2nd digits on both subjects injured limbs. Subject 2 demonstrates asymmetry in pressure time curves between injured and non injured feet with a pronounced initial impact peak on the injured side. The implication of this in terms of injury risk is unclear.

Conclusions

Presented is the use of plantar pressure mapping in NSF injury in two Elite AFL footballers. The results suggest increased FF pressure and anatomical variations such as a short 1st metatarsal and metatarsus adductus could contribute to NSF injury. Technology such as plantar pressure mapping may be used prospectively to assess or screen at risk groups for NSF injury.

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Correspondence to Ian North.

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This article is published under license to BioMed Central Ltd. This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

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North, I., Foley, L. Navicular stress fracture injury: observational use of plantar pressure measures in elite AFL footballers. J Foot Ankle Res 6 (Suppl 1), P11 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1186/1757-1146-6-S1-P11

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/1757-1146-6-S1-P11

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