Flexible Flatfoot
Conditions
Keywords
Foot deformities, Intrinsic foot muscle training, Muscle strenghening, Short-foot exercises, Performance, Proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation
Brief summary
In the study, the effects of two different strengthening exercises combined with short foot exercise on lower extremity functional performance and muscle strength will be examined and compared in adults aged 18-45 years with flexible flatfoot. This study was designed as an experimental, 3-arm, parallel group, double-blind randomized controlled study that included a 6-week intervention period.
Detailed description
Participants will be randomly divided into 3 different groups (control group, foot-ankle exercise group, hip exercise group). The control group will be instructed to perform only short foot exercise; the foot-ankle exercise group will be instructed to perform 3-dimensional foot-ankle extension exercise in proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) pattern in addition to short foot exercise; the hip exercise group will be instructed to perform hip abductor and external rotator muscle strengthening exercise (clam exercise) in addition to short foot exercise. Foot-ankle and hip exercises will be performed against resistance with the help of an elastic band, 3 days a week under the supervision of a physiotherapist and progression will be made by changing to a higher level of difficulty band color every 2 weeks. Short foot exercise will be performed every day of the week (3 days under the supervision of a physiotherapist; the rest of the days as a home exercise program) and will be progressed by changing position (sitting, standing, on one leg respectively) every 2 weeks. All exercises will be performed for 6 weeks. Assessments will be performed at the beginning and end of the exercises by another researcher blinded to group allocation. Isometric muscle strength of the intrinsic foot, four-way ankle circumference and hip abductor-external rotator muscles, endurance of the plantar flexors, forward jump and dynamic balance performance will be evaluated respectively.
Interventions
OTHERPNF exercise
Ankle and foot exercises practiced for 6 weeks.
OTHERClam exercise
Hip exercise practiced for 6 weeks.
OTHERShort-foot exercise
Foot exercise practiced together for 6 weeks.
Sponsors
Mustafa Kemal University
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
DOUBLE (Subject, Outcomes Assessor)
Masking description
The primary researcher will ensure blinding. Participants and the researcher conducting the assessments will be blinded to group information.
Intervention model description
This study was designed as an experimental, 3-arm parallel-group, double-blind randomized controlled trial with a 6-week intervention period. The study will be conducted at Toros University physiotherapy and exercise laboratory.
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to 45 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
* Age range is 18-45 years * Navicular drop is 10 mm or more * Getting a value of +6 points or more from the Foot Posture Index-6
Exclusion criteria
* Orthopedic and rheumatological diseases of the spinal region and lower extremities * Surgery history of the spine and lower extremities * Neurological and systemic disorders * Describe lower extremity and/or lower back pain in the last 6 months * Disorders that may affect cognition and balance (otitis media, visual impairment, etc.) * Body mass index being above normal values (18-24.9 kg/m2) * Having rigid flat feet and/or hallux rigidus-limitus deformity * Being involved in regular sports or exercise * Having received any physiotherapy or rehabilitation treatment for flat feet or hips in the last year
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Medial longitudinal arch height | 6 weeks | Medial longitudinal arch height will be evaluated with the navicular drop test. |
| Static foot posture | 6 weeks | Static foot posture will be evaluated with Foot Posture Index-6. |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Isometric muscle strength | 6 weeks | Abductor hallucis, flexor digitorum brevis, flexor hallucis brevis, 4-way ankle muscles and hip abductor/external rotator isometric muscle strength will be evaluated using a digital hand-held dynamometer. |
| Lower extremity functional performance | 6 weeks | With plantar flexor focused endurance performance heel raise test; with dynamic balance Y balance test; Single leg forward jump performance will be evaluated with the single leg hop for distance test. |
Countries
Turkey (Türkiye)
Outcome results
None listed