The foot is an essential part of the human body, and a key factor enabling mobility. The proper functioning of the foot depends on its morphological structure and on the proper shape of its arches – ...transversal and longitudinal. Having in mind that flat feet develop as a succession of different stages, it is important to systematically monitor the development of feet at various phases of a child’s growth. Therefore, this study aims to evaluate longitudinal foot arch curvature in children aged 7 and 8. The study involved 122 children (77 girls and 45 boys) aged 7 and 8 – students of a primary school in Bezrzecze near the city of Szczecin. Body height and weight, and the length and width of the feet were measured. A podoscope was used to determine the curvature of the longitudinal foot arch, which was then expressed on a scale compatible with the Szriter-Gudanow “KY” foot arch curvature index. This non-invasive method enables preventive measures to be taken at critical stages of a child's life. The results for the tested groups of children revealed statistically significant relationships for body height and weight, and the length of the feet between the 7 and 8 year olds. Furthermore, it was observed that the vast majority of the tested children has normal curvature of the longitudinal arch of both the right and left foot.
Objective: The main study objective was to describe the differences of selected foot morphological parameters in terms of laterality in present elderly women. Methodology: Research group consisted of ...310 elderly women attending the University of the Third Age of the Faculty of Physical Culture of the Palacký University in Olomouc. A podograph (Capron Podologie, France) was used to acquire footprints using the plantographic method. Length, width and angle parameters and the Chippaux-Smiřák index were evaluated using the NOHA program to assess the longitudinal foot arch condition. We used basic descriptive statistics to describe acquired measurements. T-test for independent samples was used to determine the differences between the right and left foot. Results: The elderly women had the highest incidence of the normally arched longitudinal foot arch second degree (Right: 51.3%, Left: 57.4%). When evaluating the average values of the Chippaux-Šmiřák index (Right: 35.7% ± 9.8%; Left: 34.1% ± 11.2%), significant differences (p = 0.00054) between the right and left foot were found. The average big toe rightward misalignment was 9.8° ± 8.1° and leftward misalignment was 10.7° ± 8.9°. The average little toe angle misalignment was 17.5° ± 6.8° (R) and 16.9° ± 6.8° (L). Conclusions: More than 80% of elderly women attending U3A had normally arched foot second degree (N2). Statistically significant differences in relation to the laterality were found in the forefoot length, heel angle, foot angle and the Chippaux-Smirak index. The big and little toe misalignment in terms of laterality may be assessed as similar, without any significant differences.
Abstract Background Currently, the optimal treatment of flatfoot remains inconclusive. Our objectives were to understand the effect of different arthrodeses on maintenance of foot arch and provide ...experimental basis for rational selection in treatment of flatfoot. Methods Sixteen fresh-frozen cadaver feet amputated above the ankle along with a section of leg were studied from ten males and six females. We used standard clinical techniques and hardware for making the arthrodeses. Plantar pressure in the medial and lateral longitudinal arch distribution was measured with a plantar pressure mapping system under different loading conditions. Findings Values of plantar pressure reaction, mean and maximum dynamic peak pressure between all group pairs were statistically significant ( P < 0.05). The plantar pressure reaction appeared at the load of 960 N in the medial arch of the unoperated foot, compared with 1080 N after subtalar arthrodesis, 1200 N after talonavicular arthrodesis, 1080 N after calcaneocuboid arthrodesis, 1320 N after double arthrodesis, and 1560 N after triple arthrodesis. The plantar pressure reaction appeared at the load of 360 N in the lateral arch of the unoperated foot, compared with 600 N after subtalar arthrodesis, 600 N after talonavicular arthrodesis, 840 N after calcaneocuboid arthrodesis, 960 N after double arthrodesis, and 1440 N after triple arthrodesis. Interpretation The triple arthrodesis provided the highest support to both arches; the double arthrodesis appeared to be similar to talonavicular arthrodesis in supporting the medial arch and similar to calcaneocuboid arthrodesis in supporting the lateral arch; subtalar arthrodesis was less effective in supporting both arches.
Background: Obesity is major risk factor for many diseases within society and represents extensive loads for the feet which lead to various foot disorders and deformities. Objective: The aim of this ...study was to evaluate the impact of obesity as represented by percent body fat (PBF) on foot morphology. Methods: The study sample included 139 Czech women aged 48-69 years. The women were divided into two groups by PBF: non-obese women (NOW) (n = 66; PBF < 35%) and obese women (OW) (n = 73; PBF > 35%). Measurements included % PBF and width, length and angle dimensions of foot. The Chippaux-Smirak index (CSI) was calculated for each foot. Results: We found significant differences between OW and NOW in these parameters: direct forefoot width (sin. p = .02, rpb = .20), direct heel width (sin. p = .01, rpb = .22; dex. p < .01, rpb = .22), hallux angle (sin. p = .01, rpb = .25) and CSI (sin. p < .01, rpb = .26; dex. p < .01, rpb = .27). The results showed that the mean values of the heel width and CSI were significantly higher in OW on both feet, the mean values of forefoot width only on the left foot. Conclusions: Results proved that obesity impacts all parts of the foot (heel, longitudinal foot arch, forefoot). Despite significant differences of the CSI between NOW and OW, the number of subjects with flat feet was in both groups negligible.
Flat feet in children Vukasinovic, Zoran; Zivkovic, Zorica; Vucetic, Cedomir
Srpski arhiv za celokupno lekarstvo,
05/2009, Letnik:
137, Številka:
5-6
Journal Article
Odprti dostop
The authors describe flatfoot, as one of very frequent deformities in everyday medical practice. A special condition of the deformity associated with a calcaneal valgus position and complicated by a ...knee valgus position (as a consequence of non-treatment) is described. Also, the precise anatomy of the longitudinal foot arches (medial and lateral), definition and classification of the deformity, clinical findings and therapeutic protocols are proposed. The authors especially emphasise that the need for having extensive knowledge on the differences between a flexible and rigid flatfoot, having in mind that the treatment of flexible flat foot is usually not necessary, while the treatment of rigid flatfoot is usually unavoidable.
Most of the foot deformities relate to the arch collapse or instability, especially the longitudinal one. Though the function of the plantar fascia to the arch height has been investigated by some ...authors, the other plantar ligaments effect is still unclear. The purpose of this study was to explore the role of the plantar soft tissue in the foot arch biomechanics, including the plantar fascia, spring ligament complex, short plantar ligament and long plantar ligament through normal adult fresh frozen specimens in different injured condition. Also, a three-dimensional finite element model of a normal left foot was developed which was comprising most joints of the foot and consisted of bone segments, major ligaments and plantar soft tissue. These intrinsic ligaments of the foot arch were sectioned in different sequence in the cadaveric experiment, which simulated the different pathologic situation of the plantar ligaments injury to describe the bone segments displacement and stress distribution. The validity of the three-dimensional finite element model was verified by comparing results with experimentally measured data via the displacement and Von-mise stress of each bone segments. The flat foot model both in cadaveric foot and finite element foot was constructed and analyzed.
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