To settle a bet, you need to measure the length of your lower ...

[Mr.Thesaxman]

To settle a bet, you need to measure the length of your lower limb (head of femur to distal end of tibia). What landmarks would you use to make the measurement?

Question 2

A runner visits a podiatrist complaining of pain at the bottom of the foot. The podiatrist quickly notes that the patient has flatfeet and decides to take an x-ray of his foot. Explain what it means to have flatfeet. What are some possible consequences of flatfeet and why did the podiatrist take an x-ray? What treatments might the doctor recommend?

[kjo;oj]

Answer to Question 1

You could feel the lesser sciatic notch, which is at the same level as the head of the femur. You could feel the medial malleolus of the tibia at the ankle.

Answer to Question 2

The normal arches in the foot are lower than normal because they have lost elasticity or didn't form correctly. When you stand normally the arches provide an elastic connection as the weight is transferred from the calcaneus to the metatarsals. The arches act as shock absorbers but when the arches are flat the load is distributed into the metatarsals causing pain. The patient may have a stress fracture of one of the metatarsals as a result of the stress of running with poor arches. The doctor would recommend wearing shoes with extra arch support.

[Mr.Thesaxman]

Thank you!

[kjo;oj]

Always glad to help...