Biomechanical and morphological characterization of the foot in patients with posterior tibial tendon dysfunction.

This thesis will focus on patients with posterior tendon dysfunction (PTTD). Well known classifications of this disease are based on clinical outcome measurements. Which provide a base for decision making in the treatment of these patients. Little is known about the biomechanical characteristics of these patients. Besides kinematic differences we will focus on kinetics. Exploring the characteristics with different food models and making a new classification for the treatment of this disease combining it with the classic clinical classifications. Furthermore the focus will be on morphological changes. With statistical shape modelling a morphological classification will be made and research will be done in predicting changes en biomechanical relation with certain morphological changes. At the end an observational study will be done, using above made classifications and knowledge on patient with PTTD who had an corrective operation. To see if the biomechanical changes will return to normal. Studying which treatment is the best option with certain pre-operative biomechanical, clinical and morphological characteristics.