AP Foot
Position the Patient
- Supine or seated
- Foot flat on IR
- Foot straight, no rotation
- Plantar surface flat on IR
- Center mid‑foot to IR
Words That Work
“Bend your knee and rest the entire bottom of your foot flat on the plate, including your heel. Keep your toes pointing straight ahead—don’t let your foot roll inward or outward. Hold still.”
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AP foot positioning
Set Up the Shot
- Center here
- Central ray
- Base of 3rd metatarsal; 10° cephalic (toward heel)
- Include this in the field
- Collimation
- Entire foot
- Set the distance
- SID
- 40"
- Check the technique
- Technique
- 55-65 kVp
- Follow facility protocols
Common Pitfalls
- •Rotation (unequal metatarsal spacing)
- •Entire foot not included
- •Missing 10° cephalic CR angle
Evaluate the Image
What should be visible?
- Phalanges
- Metatarsals
- Tarsals (including navicular, cuboid, cuneiforms)
- Mid‑foot and forefoot joints
Does the image pass?
- ✓Entire foot included
- ✓Metatarsals mostly open
- ✓No rotation (equal spacing between metatarsals)
- ✓Sharp bone detail