What it means
A heel angled in or out when seen from behind, wearing the shoe on one side.
Where it comes from
Subtalar misalignment that rotates the whole lower limb chain.
How it is measured
It is measured on the back view, in the coronal plane. The defining measurement is Heel rolls inward (Rearfoot angle), and it is reported as a finding from above 5°. The number is computed from landmarks on that photograph — not estimated by eye, and not compared against a stock example.
What the numbers mean
| Measurement | Grade |
|---|---|
| up to 5° | Within normal range |
| 5–9° | Mild rearfoot valgus |
| 9–14° | Moderate rearfoot valgus |
| 14° and above | Severe rearfoot valgus |
Source of the bands: Relaxed calcaneal stance position; up to ~5° of eversion is the conventional normal
What confirms it
The navicular drop and the single heel raise separate a flexible flat foot from a rigid one — both belong to the foot-scan section.
Every number on this page is measured on the skin surface in a photograph. That is not the same as a measurement taken on a radiograph: it correlates with one and does not replace it. Wherever the decision depends on imaging, this page and the report itself say so.
What happens at the clinic
The assessment starts with three standing photographs — front, side and back. Every angle is measured on those photographs, the report prints the number and the grade for each, and the exercise programme is built from those numbers rather than from a template. Posture analysis explains the whole path, and the online assessment can be started from your own photograph now.
Frequently asked questions
At what point is rearfoot valgus and varus reported?
When heel rolls inward (rearfoot angle) is above 5°, it is reported as a finding. That is where the "Mild rearfoot valgus" band begins. The bands come from: Relaxed calcaneal stance position; up to ~5° of eversion is the conventional normal
Can rearfoot valgus and varus be assessed from a photograph?
A photograph gives a number, which most assessments do not have. But it is a surface measurement and it does not replace imaging. The navicular drop and the single heel raise separate a flexible flat foot from a rigid one — both belong to the foot-scan section.
What is the most severe grade?
The worst band in this table is "Severe rearfoot valgus". The grade is printed beside the measurement itself in the report, so it is always clear which number produced the word.