The influence of mobility strategy on the modern human talus.
Rita SorrentinoNicholas B StephensKristian J CarlsonCarla FigusLuca FiorenzaStephen FrostWilliam Harcourt-SmithWilliam ParrJaap SaersKevin TurleyStephen WroeMaria Giovanna BelcastroTimothy M RyanStefano BenazziPublished in: American journal of physical anthropology (2019)
We suggest that talar morphological variation is related to the adoption of constraining footwear in post-industrial society, which reduces ankle range of motion. This contrasts with hunter-gatherers, where talar shape shows a more flexible profile, likely resulting from a lack of footwear while traversing uneven terrain. We conclude that modern human tali vary with differences in locomotor and cultural behavior.