Final answer:
During an overhead squat assessment, feet turning out suggest underactivity in the medial gastrocnemius, soleus, and inner thigh muscles. An obese patient with swollen feet and other symptoms may have poor venous return due to an inadequately functioning skeletal muscle pump.
Step-by-step explanation:
When a student's feet turn out during an overhead squat assessment, it may indicate that certain muscles are underactive or weak. Specifically, the medial gastrocnemius, soleus, and inner thigh muscles may not be functioning optimally to maintain the feet in a neutral position. Due to the lack of activity, the muscles are used extensively to balance the body, especially in the front-to-back direction. Moreover, when balancing or bending, stability can be improved by lowering the center of gravity and widening the base of support, which is achieved by spreading the feet farther apart.
An obese patient with symptoms such as swollen feet and ankles, fatigue, shortness of breath, and a sense of being "spaced out" might be experiencing issues related to poor circulation, which can be exacerbated by long periods of standing without adequate physical activity. The skeletal muscle pump plays a crucial role in venous return, and with limited muscle movement, as in the patient's case, blood flow becomes less efficient, leading to symptoms of venous insufficiency.