Dear David and all,

David asks:
> How would you define stabilization of a joint?<

I would define stability as the ability to resist motion when a force is
applied.

Some cut, David continued:
> But would that happen while walking on a soft uneven surface such as snow.
> Would the foot orthoses be capable of applying enough force at the foot
thru
> GRF to change the mechanics of the whole lower limb and pelvis, and would
it
> need to? Since 'walking' style would be completely changed compared to the
> usual gait pattern associated with walking on hard flat ground.

David, those who have been around on this mailbase long enough will know
that environmental influence is one of my pet topics. I have stated in the
past that  biomechanical function of an individual is itself a function of
the genotype + environment and is thus non-constant; this stems from my PhD
work. Your question re: foot orthoses is spot on. If foot orthoses "work" by
modifying GRF then they themselves are environment (all non-genetic factors)
dependent. The fact that they do seem to "work" in a variety of environments
suggests that there is a broad envelope of "working" and that their effect
may be more than just direct mechanical.

Best wishes,
Simon

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