PREFERRED MOVEMENT PATHWAY
total mass. Additionally, gravity pulls on all
body segments which causes a net balance
effect directly reflected through the center
of mass. The force of gravity is opposed
by the ground reaction force which pushes
upward against the foot. The net ground
reaction force occurs at an imaginary
point on the ground called the center of
pressure (Kandel, et al.). Therefore, the
location of the center of mass in the body
is not fixed. It depends on the position and
spatial orientation of the body known as
“movement”.
There are multiple lines of thought as
it pertains to how foot orthotics affect
biomechanics. Concepts and theories
of orthotics and biomechanics that have
been research and utilized by clinicians
for decades. The preferred movement
pathway theory speculates that foot
orthoses do not function by realigning
the skeleton, rather research supports the
notion that foot orthoses alter input signals
through mechanoreceptors in the skin
and muscle into the plantar foot which
causes change in the “muscle tuning” of
the lower extremity, thereby producing a
20
Pedorthic Footcare Association www.pedorthics.org
"...IF THE ORTHOSIS
COUNTERACTS
THE PREFERRED
MOVEMENT PATH,
THAT MUSCLE
ACTIVITY WILL
BE INCREASED
THEREBY
INCREASING
ECONOMY OF
MOVEMENT AND
SUBSEQUENTLY
REDUCING THE
RATE OF OVERUSE
INJURY."