May 13

Written by: Larry Huppin, DPM
5/13/2010 9:31 AM

Some of the studies we discuss in our eJournal Club refer to the Foot Posture Index(1, 2). The Foot Posture Index consists of six specific criteria:

• Palpation of the talar head
• Supralateral and infralateral malleolar curvature
• Calcaneal frontal plane position
• TN joint prominence
• Abduction and adduction of the forefoot on the rearfoot.
• Congruence of the longitudinal medial arch

Each Foot Posture Index criterion is scored by an examiner on a 5-point scale ranging from -2 (very supinated) to +2 (very pronated)

Scores are then summed to give an overall foot posture score. The summed score has the potential to range from –12 (highly supinated) to +12 (highly pronated).(1, 2)

To increase accuracy multiple examiners can be used and the totals averaged.

Studies(1, 2, 3, 4) indicate that the clinical measurement of Foot Posture Index has moderate-to-high reliability when assessing adult populations.


1. REDMOND AC, CROSBIE J, PEAT J, ET AL: “A New Criterion Based, Composite Clinical Rating System for the Quantification of Foot Posture: Its Validation and Use in Clinical Trials,” in 19th Australian Podiatry Conference, p55, National Convention Centre, Canberra, 2001.
2. REDMOND AC, CROSBIE J, ET AL. Development and validation of a novel rating system for scoring standing foot posture: The Foot Posture Index. Clinical Biomechanics 21(2006) 89-98
3. PAYNE CB, OATES MJ, MITCHELL A: The response of the foot to prefabricated foot orthoses of different arch heights. Australas J Podiatr Med 36: 7, 2002.
4. EVANS AM, COPPER AW, SCHARFBILLIG RW, ET AL: Reliability of the foot posture index and traditional measures of foot position. JAPMA 93: 203, 2003.

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