Foot X-ray positioning
How to position for each of the 10 foot X-ray views: where the patient goes, where to centre, which receptor and distance to use, and what a good image looks like.
By the ScanFlo Editorial Team · Updated
In this section · X-ray positioning
- X-ray positioning guides
- Skull positioning
- Face & sinuses positioning
- Soft tissue neck positioning
- C-spine positioning
- Chest positioning
- Shoulder positioning
- Humerus positioning
- Elbow positioning
- Forearm positioning
- Wrist positioning
- Hand positioning
- T-spine positioning
- Abdomen positioning
- L-spine positioning
- Sacrum & SI joints positioning
- Pelvis positioning
- Hip positioning
- Femur positioning
- Knee positioning
- Tibia & fibula positioning
- Ankle positioning
- Foot positioning
X-ray positioning/Foot
The routine foot views are Foot AP (dorsiplantar), Foot PA oblique, Heel lateral and Heel semiaxial (supine). Foot AP oblique, Foot lateral, Heel semiaxial (prone), Toes AP, Toes lateral and Toes oblique come in when you need to answer a particular question, or when the patient can't manage a routine view. Each guide walks you through the set-up step by step, with a short video, exposure settings for different patient sizes and what a good image should show.
A radiographer is still checking these guides.
Routine views
Extra views
All views in this region
- Foot AP (dorsiplantar)
- Foot PA oblique
- Heel lateral
- Heel semiaxial (supine)
- Foot AP oblique
- Foot lateral
- Heel semiaxial (prone)
- Toes AP
- Toes lateral
- Toes oblique
Quick reference
Where to centre, how far and which receptor, for every foot view at a glance. Open a guide for the full set-up.
| Projection | Centre on | SID | Receptor | Breathing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Foot AP (dorsiplantar) | the base of the third metatarsal | 100 cm | 18×24 portrait | No breathing instruction needed |
| Foot PA oblique | the base of the third metatarsal | 100 cm | 18×24 portrait | No breathing instruction needed |
| Heel lateral | the calcaneus | 100 cm | 18×24 landscape | No breathing instruction needed |
| Heel semiaxial (supine) | the base of the heel | 100 cm | 18×24 portrait | No breathing instruction needed |
| Foot AP oblique | the base of the third metatarsal | 100 cm | 18×24 portrait | No breathing instruction needed |
| Foot lateral | the base of the metatarsals | 100 cm | 24×30 landscape | No breathing instruction needed |
| Heel semiaxial (prone) | the heel | 100 cm | 18×24 portrait, grid | No breathing instruction needed |
| Toes AP | the metatarsophalangeal joint of the toe | 100 cm | 18×24 landscape | No breathing instruction needed |
| Toes lateral | the proximal interphalangeal joint of the toe | 100 cm | 18×24 landscape | No breathing instruction needed |
| Toes oblique | the metatarsophalangeal joint of the toe | 100 cm | 18×24 landscape | No breathing instruction needed |
Mistakes that lead to repeats
- Joints closed on the foot AP (dorsiplantar): angle 10° toward the heel.
- Metatarsals overlap on the foot PA oblique: rotate further.
- Off-centre on the heel lateral: centre over the heel.
- Calcaneus foreshortened on the heel semiaxial (supine): pull the foot up with the strap.
- Overlap on the foot AP oblique: angle the foot.
- Rotation on the foot lateral: make the sole perpendicular.
Common questions
- Which foot views are routine?
- Usually Foot AP (dorsiplantar), Foot PA oblique, Heel lateral and Heel semiaxial (supine).
- What distance (SID) do foot X-rays use?
- 100 cm for every foot view here.
- Do foot X-rays need a grid?
- Only Heel semiaxial (prone) needs one; the rest are taken without a grid.
Try it in ScanFlo: the ScanFlo XR X-ray Room, coming soon, lets you set up every foot projection in a 3D room and score your positioning. See ScanFlo XR →