The Supination Resistance Test [Muscle Meter] measures the amount of external force required to initiate supination of the foot and ankle in a weight-bearing position. It is commonly used to provide context for foot posture, subtalar joint mechanics, lower-limb loading, footwear or orthotic reasoning, running assessment and progress tracking.
The Muscle Meter is used to quantify the force required to lift or supinate the medial arch/foot region in a standardised position. When used on its own, the Muscle Meter primarily measures peak force, which is the highest force value recorded during the test. When used with Measurz, Muscle Meter data can be recorded and analysed with broader force-time metrics, including peak force, impulse, torque, rate of force development, time to peak and fatigue index.
For routine Supination Resistance Test use, peak force is usually the main metric. Force as a percentage of body weight may be useful if directly calculated from the client’s test force and body weight, especially because body mass can influence foot loading. Torque may be useful only if a lever arm is measured and a biomechanical interpretation is required. Rate of force development, time to peak, impulse and fatigue index are usually less central for routine supination resistance testing unless the protocol intentionally includes a specific force-time analysis.
The result can support assessment reasoning and progress tracking, but it does not diagnose plantar fasciopathy, posterior tibial tendon dysfunction, flat feet, ankle instability, foot posture problems, injury risk, running capacity or orthotic need on its own.
The Supination Resistance Test is a weight-bearing foot and ankle assessment that estimates how much force is required to move the foot toward supination.
In a Muscle Meter setup, the client usually stands with body weight distributed in a standardised way while the device is used to apply upward or supinating force to the medial side of the foot. The force needed to initiate supination is recorded.
The test is not a pure muscle strength test. It is more accurately described as a mechanical resistance or force requirement test. It reflects how much external force is required to supinate the foot in that specific standing setup.
Consistent setup matters because stance width, foot posture, body weight distribution, contact point, device angle, footwear, surface and examiner technique can all affect the result. This test measures force requirement in a specific weight-bearing setup. It does not fully measure foot strength, gait, running mechanics, injury risk or orthotic requirement on its own.
Prepare the client
Explain that the test estimates how much force is required to move the foot toward supination while standing.
Record baseline symptoms, foot pain, arch discomfort, heel pain, ankle symptoms, calf symptoms, recent activity, footwear, fatigue and confidence with standing assessment.
Use a gentle practice application so the client understands the test and does not actively resist or assist the movement.
Set the client position
A common setup is standing with both feet on a flat surface.
Record:
barefoot or footwear condition
stance width
foot angle
knee position
body weight distribution
test side
support used
whether the opposite foot remains loaded
whether the client is relaxed or instructed to maintain posture
Set up the Muscle Meter
Set the Muscle Meter so it measures the force required to initiate supination in the intended direction.
The device may be placed against the medial arch, medial forefoot, navicular-region contact area or another defined contact point depending on the chosen protocol. The exact contact point must be recorded.
Place the device
Position the Muscle Meter comfortably against the chosen foot landmark.
Avoid excessive pressure on sensitive bony areas. Keep the force direction consistent and avoid pushing into the skin or soft tissue in a way that changes the measurement.
Stabilise and standardise the position
Ask the client to keep the same standing posture and avoid shifting weight, lifting the toes, gripping the floor, bending the knee, rotating the hip or actively assisting the movement.
Give clear instructions
Use consistent instructions such as:
“Stand relaxed and keep your weight even.”
“Do not help or resist the movement.”
“I am going to apply force until the foot begins to move.”
“Tell me if you feel pain, discomfort or anything unusual.”
Record trials
Use one gentle familiarisation trial, then record 2–3 measured trials.
Rest briefly between trials if the foot becomes uncomfortable or the client starts to actively resist.
Record whether the final score uses the best trial, average of trials or first valid trial.
Identify invalid trials
Repeat or mark a trial as invalid if:
the client shifts weight
the knee or hip position changes
the foot lifts unexpectedly
the toes grip strongly
the contact point changes
the device slips
the force direction changes
pain limits the test
the client actively assists or resists the movement
the examiner cannot identify the movement endpoint consistently
Record symptoms
Record foot pain, arch discomfort, heel symptoms, ankle symptoms, calf symptoms, confidence, apprehension and any symptom response after testing.
For retesting, match the same stance, body weight distribution, device placement, force direction, endpoint definition, scoring method and symptom recording.
The Supination Resistance Test is used to quantify the external force required to supinate the foot in a weight-bearing position.
It may be useful for:
baseline foot and ankle mechanical assessment
side-to-side comparison
monitoring change over time
supporting foot posture and lower-limb loading assessment
providing context for footwear or orthotic reasoning
comparing force requirement with symptoms and function
assessing running or walking-related foot mechanics context
reviewing changes after footwear, orthotic, mobility or strength interventions
client education
The test should support assessment reasoning. It should not be used as a stand-alone diagnostic, prescription or clearance measure.
The test primarily measures the external force required to initiate foot supination in a standardised standing setup.
It may provide useful information about:
supination resistance
foot and ankle mechanical loading context
side-to-side difference
force required to alter foot posture
symptom response to supination loading
change in force requirement over time
relationship between foot mechanics and related tasks
It does not directly measure:
isolated muscle strength
foot posture diagnosis
subtalar joint pathology
plantar fascia tissue status
posterior tibial tendon function
orthotic requirement
running gait quality
balance
sport readiness
work readiness
A higher score means more external force was required to initiate supination in the tested setup. A lower score means less external force was required.
A higher result may suggest greater resistance to supination under weight-bearing. A lower result may suggest the foot was easier to supinate. However, the meaning depends on symptoms, foot posture, body size, stance, loading, movement tasks and related findings.
A high or low value should not be interpreted as good or bad in isolation. Interpretation is strongest when the same setup is repeated over time and reviewed alongside symptoms, gait, footwear, training load, lower-limb strength, balance and functional goals.
Important influences include:
body weight
weight distribution
foot posture
stance width
foot angle
knee position
footwear
surface
contact point
device angle
examiner technique
pain
guarding
toe gripping
apprehension
client relaxation
symptom sensitivity
Recent research has begun to report normative values for the Supination Resistance Test, which strengthens interpretation. However, values remain protocol-specific and should only be applied when the measurement method, population and force application approach are comparable.
For routine Measurz use, the most useful comparisons are:
the client’s own baseline
right versus left comparison
change across retests
pain or symptom response
relationship to running, walking or standing symptoms
relationship to footwear or orthotic changes
bodyweight-normalised force if directly calculated
A side-to-side difference is worth noting, especially if it aligns with symptoms, prior injury, footwear response, balance differences or gait observations.
Reference values provide context, not diagnostic or orthotic prescription cut-offs.
Use this order:
compare with the client’s own baseline
compare right and left sides when relevant
consider symptoms during and after testing
consider body weight distribution and stance consistency
review whether the client actively resisted or assisted
compare with related foot posture, strength, mobility and gait findings
relate the result to walking, running, sport, work or daily-life demands
retest under the same conditions to monitor change
do not use reference values as pass/fail criteria
Use for the maximum force required to initiate supination in the tested setup.
Look for consistent setup, right-left comparison, change from baseline, symptom response, body weight distribution and whether the endpoint was identified consistently.
Use only when calculated directly from test force and body weight.
This may help interpret the force requirement relative to the client’s size, but it should not be treated as a universal target unless comparison data use the same method.
Use only when a lever arm is measured and a specific biomechanical interpretation is needed.
For routine use, peak force and bodyweight-normalised force are usually more practical than torque.
RFD is usually not central to routine Supination Resistance Test interpretation because the goal is to determine force required to initiate movement, not rapid force production.
Use only if the protocol is specifically designed for force-time analysis.
Time to peak is usually not central for routine use.
It may be useful only if the protocol includes a controlled ramp and the professional wants to understand how force was applied.
Impulse is usually not central unless the protocol intentionally uses a sustained force application over a defined time window.
Fatigue index is generally not relevant unless repeated or sustained supination resistance trials are intentionally used.
Consider growth, foot posture changes, coordination, attention and ability to relax during testing. Practice and clear instructions are important.
Use the test for baseline foot mechanics context, side-to-side comparison and progress tracking. Compare results with symptoms, footwear, walking and training goals.
Consider balance, foot comfort, skin sensitivity, footwear, standing tolerance and confidence. Support may be required, but it must be recorded.
Consider running, jumping, cutting, landing, footwear, training load and sport-specific foot loading. The result can support a broader foot and ankle profile but does not determine sport readiness.
Consider prolonged standing, footwear, surface exposure, walking distance, stairs, carrying and manual task demands. Do not use one score to clear work duties.
Pain, guarding, apprehension, footwear and symptom sensitivity may influence the result. Record symptoms carefully and compare with related findings.
Body weight may influence supination resistance. Absolute force and force relative to body mass may both be useful if interpreted carefully.
Repeatability improves when the same setup is used each time.
Record and standardise:
same barefoot or footwear condition
same surface
same stance width
same foot angle
same weight distribution
same knee position
same side tested
same device contact point
same force direction
same endpoint definition
same number of trials
same scoring method
same symptom and compensation recording
Published research supports the Supination Resistance Test as a reliable foot and ankle measure when the protocol is standardised. It has also been studied in relation to foot and ankle biomechanics and symptomatic foot and ankle groups.
Because results are strongly setup-dependent, the test should be interpreted as a protocol-specific force requirement measure rather than a broad diagnosis.
Common errors include:
inconsistent contact point
changing force direction
changing stance width
changing foot angle
changing footwear condition
allowing weight shift
allowing toe gripping
not defining the movement endpoint
applying force too quickly
not recording symptoms
comparing different protocols directly
treating the score as a diagnosis or orthotic prescription rule
Limitations include:
testing is setup-dependent
endpoint judgement can vary
body weight and stance affect results
pain or guarding can affect results
the test does not measure muscle strength directly
reference values are protocol-specific
high or low scores are not automatically good or bad
the test does not determine footwear, orthotic, sport or work decisions on its own
The Supination Resistance Test [Muscle Meter] may be useful for:
establishing a baseline foot mechanics measure
comparing right and left sides
tracking changes over time
reviewing response to footwear or orthotic changes
comparing findings with foot posture and symptoms
supporting running or walking assessment
educating the client about measurable change
reviewing sport, work or daily-life demands
If supination resistance is high, consider reviewing symptoms, foot posture, footwear, calf capacity, ankle mobility, balance, gait and running mechanics.
If one side is much higher, compare with symptoms, previous injury, foot posture, strength, balance and walking or running observations.
If pain limits the test, record the pain response and consider modifying contact point, force direction or testing intensity.
If the result changes after footwear or orthotic modification, record the exact footwear, device or setup change.
If the client is improving, keep the same protocol and monitor whether force requirement, symptoms, confidence and function improve together.
Position: Standing, weight-bearing, barefoot or footwear condition recorded
Start position: Standardised stance width, foot angle and weight distribution
Joint or trunk angle: Record knee position, foot posture and support use
Trials: 1 familiarisation trial, then 2–3 recorded trials
Contraction duration: Not a maximal contraction; apply force gradually until supination begins
Rest: Brief rest between trials as needed
Metric: Peak force required to initiate supination; percentage of body weight only if directly calculated
Attachment or device setup: Muscle Meter placed at a consistent medial foot contact point
Final score: Average of valid trials or best/selected value according to protocol
Key retesting requirement: Same stance, contact point, force direction, endpoint definition and scoring method
It measures the external force required to initiate supination of the foot in a weight-bearing position.
Not exactly. It measures resistance to foot supination, not isolated muscle strength.
It can be if calculated directly from force and body weight. This may provide useful context because body size can influence foot loading.
Recent normative data are emerging, but values are protocol-specific. Use matched data only when the method and population are comparable.
No. It can provide useful foot mechanics context, but it does not diagnose conditions on its own.
No. It may help inform broader reasoning, but it should not be used alone to prescribe footwear or orthotics.
Different stance, contact point, force direction, weight shift, footwear, pain, guarding and inconsistent endpoint judgement can affect results.
Record side, stance, footwear, contact point, peak force, percentage of body weight if calculated, symptoms, weight shift, compensation and retest conditions.
The Supination Resistance Test measures the force required to initiate foot supination.
It is a weight-bearing mechanical resistance test, not an isolated strength test.
Peak force is usually the main routine Muscle Meter metric.
Percentage of body weight should only be used when calculated directly from force and body weight.
Baseline comparison, side-to-side comparison and retesting consistency are essential.
Reference values provide context, not diagnostic, orthotic or clearance cut-offs.
Measurz should capture stance, contact point, symptoms, force value and retesting conditions.
Movement Assessment Technologies. (2026). Supination Resistance Test. https://www.matassessment.com/blog/supination-resistance-test
Payne, C. (2023). The supination resistance test: What, why, how. Progressive Podiatry Project. https://www.progressivepodiatryproject.com/blog/the-supination-resistance-test-what-why-how
Razzante, M. C., Vicenzino, B., Rathleff, M. S., & others. (2024). Supination resistance variations in foot and ankle musculoskeletal disorders: A systematic review. Journal of Foot and Ankle Research. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13047-023-00681-5
Razzante, M. C., Vicenzino, B., & others. (2026). Establishing normative values for the Supination Resistance Test: An international study. Journal of Foot and Ankle Research.
