Metatarsal Protrusion Angle

BACKGROUND: We performed an adaptation of the system of evaluation of metatarsal protrusion described by Oller in 1994 to study the metatarsal parabola group. METHODS: The system of measurement was applied to the five metatarsals of 169 normal feet (72 feet of women and 97 feet of men) according to the inclusion criteria established. RESULTS: The mean +/- SD metatarsal protrusion angle with respect to the second ray in women was 87.49 degrees +/- 5.48 degrees for metatarsal I, 70.00 degrees +/- 5.74 degrees for metatarsal III, 63.47 degrees +/- 4.17 degrees for metatarsal IV, and 56.38 degrees +/- 3.27 degrees for metatarsal V. In men, the values were 85.30 degrees +/- 6.75 degrees for metatarsal I, 68.00 degrees +/- 6.72 degrees for metatarsal III, 60.56 degrees +/- 4.61 degrees for metatarsal IV, and 54.13 degrees +/- 3.75 degrees for metatarsal V. The comparative analysis between women and men showed significant differences (P < .05) for all of the values of metatarsal protrusion. CONCLUSIONS: The comparative analysis between women and men indicates a possible difference between the anthropometric values of these variables in humans, suggesting a possible repercussion on the biomechanical patterns by sex.