Hallux Limitus: Exploring the Variability in Lower Limb Symmetry and Its Connection to Gait Parameters—A Case–Control Study

Hallux limitus pathology is defined as a limitation of the dorsiflexion movement of the first toe without degenerative involvement of the first metatarsophalangeal joint, which produces pain and generates functional impairment, especially in the propulsive phase of gait. It is very common to find th...

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Main Authors: Natalia Tovaruela Carrión, Ricardo Becerro-de-Bengoa-Vallejo, Marta Elena Losa-Iglesias, Daniel López-López, Juan Gómez-Salgado, Javier Bayod-López
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-03-01
Series:Bioengineering
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2306-5354/12/3/298
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author Natalia Tovaruela Carrión
Ricardo Becerro-de-Bengoa-Vallejo
Marta Elena Losa-Iglesias
Daniel López-López
Juan Gómez-Salgado
Javier Bayod-López
author_facet Natalia Tovaruela Carrión
Ricardo Becerro-de-Bengoa-Vallejo
Marta Elena Losa-Iglesias
Daniel López-López
Juan Gómez-Salgado
Javier Bayod-López
author_sort Natalia Tovaruela Carrión
collection DOAJ
description Hallux limitus pathology is defined as a limitation of the dorsiflexion movement of the first toe without degenerative involvement of the first metatarsophalangeal joint, which produces pain and generates functional impairment, especially in the propulsive phase of gait. It is very common to find this pathology in adulthood accompanied by other compensations at a biomechanical level as a consequence of blockage of the main pivot in the sagittal plane. The aim was to determine the symmetry index that occurs in dynamics affiliated with other gait parameters in subjects with and without hallux limitus. A total of 70 subjects were part of the sample, and these were separated into two groups, each consisting of 35 subjects, depending on whether they had bilateral hallux limitus or if they were healthy subjects. In this study, a platform was used to assess the load symmetry index and walking phases. The results showed significant differences in the symmetry index for lateral load (<i>p</i> = 0.023), the initial contact phase (<i>p</i> = 0.003), and the flatfoot phase (<i>p</i> < 0.001). The adults who had bilateral hallux limitus exhibited changes in the symmetry index during the lateral load as well as in the initial contact and flatfoot contact phases, demonstrating increased instability when compared to individuals with normal feet.
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spelling doaj-art-ef3f2cb07c7b470baab971a473a0b06d2025-08-20T02:42:45ZengMDPI AGBioengineering2306-53542025-03-0112329810.3390/bioengineering12030298Hallux Limitus: Exploring the Variability in Lower Limb Symmetry and Its Connection to Gait Parameters—A Case–Control StudyNatalia Tovaruela Carrión0Ricardo Becerro-de-Bengoa-Vallejo1Marta Elena Losa-Iglesias2Daniel López-López3Juan Gómez-Salgado4Javier Bayod-López5Faculty of Nursing, Physiotherapy and Podiatry, University of Seville, 41009 Seville, SpainFaculty of Nursing, Physiotherapy and Podiatry, Complutense University of Madrid, 28040 Madrid, SpainFaculty of Health Sciences, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, 28922 Alcorcón, SpainResearch, Health and Podiatry Group, Department of Health Sciences, Faculty of Nursing and Podiatry, Industrial Campus of Ferrol, Universidade da Coruña, 15403 Ferrol, SpainDepartment of Sociology, Social Work and Public Health, Faculty of Labour Sciences, Universidad de Huelva, 21004 Huelva, SpainApplied Mechanics and Bioengineering Group (AMB), Aragon Institute of Engineering Research (I3A), Centro de Investigación Biomecánica en Red CIBER-BBN, Universidad de Zaragoza, 50009 Zaragoza, SpainHallux limitus pathology is defined as a limitation of the dorsiflexion movement of the first toe without degenerative involvement of the first metatarsophalangeal joint, which produces pain and generates functional impairment, especially in the propulsive phase of gait. It is very common to find this pathology in adulthood accompanied by other compensations at a biomechanical level as a consequence of blockage of the main pivot in the sagittal plane. The aim was to determine the symmetry index that occurs in dynamics affiliated with other gait parameters in subjects with and without hallux limitus. A total of 70 subjects were part of the sample, and these were separated into two groups, each consisting of 35 subjects, depending on whether they had bilateral hallux limitus or if they were healthy subjects. In this study, a platform was used to assess the load symmetry index and walking phases. The results showed significant differences in the symmetry index for lateral load (<i>p</i> = 0.023), the initial contact phase (<i>p</i> = 0.003), and the flatfoot phase (<i>p</i> < 0.001). The adults who had bilateral hallux limitus exhibited changes in the symmetry index during the lateral load as well as in the initial contact and flatfoot contact phases, demonstrating increased instability when compared to individuals with normal feet.https://www.mdpi.com/2306-5354/12/3/298foothallux limitusinstabilitygait analysisgait patterns
spellingShingle Natalia Tovaruela Carrión
Ricardo Becerro-de-Bengoa-Vallejo
Marta Elena Losa-Iglesias
Daniel López-López
Juan Gómez-Salgado
Javier Bayod-López
Hallux Limitus: Exploring the Variability in Lower Limb Symmetry and Its Connection to Gait Parameters—A Case–Control Study
Bioengineering
foot
hallux limitus
instability
gait analysis
gait patterns
title Hallux Limitus: Exploring the Variability in Lower Limb Symmetry and Its Connection to Gait Parameters—A Case–Control Study
title_full Hallux Limitus: Exploring the Variability in Lower Limb Symmetry and Its Connection to Gait Parameters—A Case–Control Study
title_fullStr Hallux Limitus: Exploring the Variability in Lower Limb Symmetry and Its Connection to Gait Parameters—A Case–Control Study
title_full_unstemmed Hallux Limitus: Exploring the Variability in Lower Limb Symmetry and Its Connection to Gait Parameters—A Case–Control Study
title_short Hallux Limitus: Exploring the Variability in Lower Limb Symmetry and Its Connection to Gait Parameters—A Case–Control Study
title_sort hallux limitus exploring the variability in lower limb symmetry and its connection to gait parameters a case control study
topic foot
hallux limitus
instability
gait analysis
gait patterns
url https://www.mdpi.com/2306-5354/12/3/298
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AT martaelenalosaiglesias halluxlimitusexploringthevariabilityinlowerlimbsymmetryanditsconnectiontogaitparametersacasecontrolstudy
AT daniellopezlopez halluxlimitusexploringthevariabilityinlowerlimbsymmetryanditsconnectiontogaitparametersacasecontrolstudy
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