What moment occurs at toe off in the foot?

At toe off during the gait cycle, a plantarflexion moment occurs as the foot pushes off the ground to propel the body forward. This action primarily involves the calf muscles, specifically the gastrocnemius and soleus, which contract to exert a force that allows the toes to leave the ground.

While the correct resolution indicates a dorsiflexion moment, this misunderstanding may arise from considering the position of the ankle just before toe off, where the foot is typically in a plantarflexed position. During the propulsion phase, however, the focus is on the dynamic action of the calf muscles providing a forceful push. In contrast, any mention of inversion or eversion moments is less relevant to this particular phase of the gait cycle, as those movements relate more to stability and alignment of the foot rather than the active push-off mechanism.

Overall, understanding the movement mechanics during toe off is critical for grasping how lower limb function supports walking and running, making it essential to accurately identify the moments occurring throughout the gait cycle.