At heel contact, sagittal plane ankle rotation helps by allowing what structure to strike the ground?

At heel contact, sagittal plane ankle rotation helps by allowing what structure to strike the ground?

• A. Calcaneus
• B. Patella
• C. Tibial tuberosity
• D. Hallux

Answer: (A)

During heel contact in walking, the foot rotates in the sagittal plane so that the heel can touch the ground first. This movement involves a bit of ankle dorsiflexion as the tibia moves forward over the foot, aligning the heel for initial contact. The structure that makes this first contact is the calcaneus, the heel bone, which provides a stable base and helps absorb impact as you transition into full stance. The other structures listed aren’t the ones that strike the ground first: the patella is part of the knee, the tibial tuberosity is a bump on the shinbone, and the hallux (big toe) comes into play later during push-off rather than at heel strike.

During heel contact in walking, the foot rotates in the sagittal plane so that the heel can touch the ground first. This movement involves a bit of ankle dorsiflexion as the tibia moves forward over the foot, aligning the heel for initial contact. The structure that makes this first contact is the calcaneus, the heel bone, which provides a stable base and helps absorb impact as you transition into full stance. The other structures listed aren’t the ones that strike the ground first: the patella is part of the knee, the tibial tuberosity is a bump on the shinbone, and the hallux (big toe) comes into play later during push-off rather than at heel strike.