Foot Types, Asymmetry between Feet: Article by Dr. McPoil

     As I am researching for a book I am writing, I came across this good paper by the prolific writer/researcher Dr. Thomas McPoil. He discusses the variations that he sees which are similar to my findings over the years. Each one of these variations from ideal (or Normal as termed by Dr Merton Root) can and do cause symptoms due to the changes in gait that they cause. The findings were: 8.6% Forefoot Varus (this seemed low), 44.8% FF Valgus, 14.7% Plantar Flexed First Ray, 98% Tibial Varum (this seems high), and 84% Subtalar Varus. One of the important points that the paper shows that only 69% of the patients were symmetrical in deformity or variation. That is the patients showed over 30% that one foot was totally different to the other. This is found routinely in our clinic and is magnified by other reasons for asymmetry like: right or left handed, old injuries, running or walking styles, the affect of shoe gear on the force of abnormal motion on each side, etc. So, as podiatrist, we have a lot of work to do at evening out these asymmetries. Rich

https://www.jospt.org/doi/10.2519/jospt.1988.9.12.406