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 varus |
| 9–14° | Moderate rearfoot varus |
| 14° and above | Severe rearfoot varus |
Source of the bands: Relaxed calcaneal stance position; inversion beyond ~5° is a supinating rearfoot
What confirms it
A cavus foot and ankle instability often travel with it; the foot-scan section completes the assessment.
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 varus" band begins. The bands come from: Relaxed calcaneal stance position; inversion beyond ~5° is a supinating rearfoot
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. A cavus foot and ankle instability often travel with it; the foot-scan section completes the assessment.
What is the most severe grade?
The worst band in this table is "Severe rearfoot varus". The grade is printed beside the measurement itself in the report, so it is always clear which number produced the word.