Purpose:

• Assess if the Foot and Ankle are in Neutral Alignment.

FOOT ALIGNMENT 

• Do the Toes point forward?
• Does the Foot ‘turn out’ or point out to the sides by an angle greater than 18º of Abduction (away from center)?
• Does the Arch of the Foot ‘collapse’ or drop towards the floor?

PREHAB EXERCISES 

• Soft Tissue Therapy (Mobility) for the Intrinsic Foot Muscles, Plantar Fascia, Calf Muscles, and Adductors (Groin) Muscles.
• Stretch (Mobility) the Foot, Calf, and Ankles.
• Activate the Foot, Ankle, and Hip Muscles, especially the Calf and Lateral Hip muscles.
• Practice Stability exercises for the Ankle, Hip, and Posterior Chain.

Start with Mobility exercises and progress to Activation and Stability exercises for this region if the Foot and Ankle fail to exhibit Neutral Alignment.