Stanford University and the Palo Alto VA (Veterans Administration Hospital) developed a multi-year joint project to study and quantify the effect of multiple parameters on the knee. The focus is on patients with some level of osteoarthritis at the outset. The objective metric is the reduction of knee pain and reduced progression of arthritic damage.
The Stanford Human Performance lab is the center of the test program. Test subjects are evaluated while walking on an instrumented treadmill. The foot angle (toe-in) is monitored by an array of cameras throughout each step. The treadmill load cells allow for information on the force profile throughout the contact of the foot with the treadmill.
Preliminary data from the study points strongly to a correlation between foot toe-in with respect to the initial (nominal) foot angle. Test subjects work to toe-in by 10 degrees with respect to that initial nominal position.
I am one of the test subjects chosen for this study. My nominal foot-angle is approximately 12-14 degrees toe-out. Therefore my target foot angle is 2-4 degrees toe-out. Through training, practice, and feedback while walking, the desire is to reinforce the 2-4 degree out orientation throughout normal walking without feedback.
This study was very informative and helped to develop an improved foot position while walking.