In heel contact, which bone is primed to strike the ground due to sagittal plane ankle rotation?

In heel contact, which bone is primed to strike the ground due to sagittal plane ankle rotation?

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

Answer: (A)

During heel contact, the foot lands on the calcaneus—the heel bone—because the ankle rotates in the sagittal plane as the body moves forward over the foot, positioning the posterior part of the foot to contact the ground first and absorb the initial impact. The other bones listed aren’t the ones that strike first: the hallux (big toe) and forefoot come into play after the heel, and the tibial tuberosity and patella are parts of the knee region and don’t contact the ground during heel strike. So the calcaneus is primed to strike the ground.

During heel contact, the foot lands on the calcaneus—the heel bone—because the ankle rotates in the sagittal plane as the body moves forward over the foot, positioning the posterior part of the foot to contact the ground first and absorb the initial impact. The other bones listed aren’t the ones that strike first: the hallux (big toe) and forefoot come into play after the heel, and the tibial tuberosity and patella are parts of the knee region and don’t contact the ground during heel strike. So the calcaneus is primed to strike the ground.