Vertical talus in this context occurs when which strength pattern is present?

Vertical talus in this context occurs when which strength pattern is present?

• A. Have dorsiflexion strength but no plantarflexion strength
• B. Have plantarflexion strength but no dorsiflexion strength
• C. Have both dorsiflexion and plantarflexion strengths
• D. Have neither dorsiflexion nor plantarflexion strengths

Answer: (A)

Vertical talus appears when the foot lacks plantarflexion strength but still has dorsiflexion strength. With plantarflexors weakened or absent, the ankle can’t press downward against gravity, so the foot rests in a dorsiflexed position and the talus assumes a vertical alignment. This dorsiflexion-dominant pattern is characteristic in conditions like spina bifida, where motor weakness often preserves dorsiflexors while plantarflexors are impaired, leading to the vertical talus deformity. If plantarflexion were intact, or if both motions were weak, the foot would not adopt this same vertical configuration.