Position of Swing-Phase Foot Relative to Stance-Phase Foot at Minimum Toe Clearance: The Effect of Walking Speed

Minimum toe clearance (MTC) location relative to the stance-phase foot, as well as how this location changes with walking speed, helps in better understanding the circumstances when MTC is most relevant. This study helps define where MTC occurs for the swing-phase foot in relation to the stance-phase foot. Gait speed was assessed also to determine its effect on this relative positioning. 3D lower body gait data were collected from 14 barefoot participants (age: 8-14 y). Participants ambulated at slow, self-selected, and fast gait speeds. At all speeds, MTC was found to occur closer to the tip of the hallux rather than to the heel of the stance-phase foot. At slow gait speeds, the MTC was 70.2% from the heel. For the self-selected and fast speeds, the MTC was 113.6% and 98.8% from the heel, respectively. Though the location changed, the vertical height of the swing-phase foot at MTC did not change significantly as a function of gait speed. These results indicate that the location of MTC is significantly impacted by the placement of the stance-phase foot as well as walking speed. These factors can play a role in assessing the risk of tripping when an unexpected trip hazard is present.