Background: The validity of clinical measurements such as Arch Index for the evaluation of flat foot has not been fully established for the physicians. Objectives: We conducted this study to compare the Arch Index (AI) and Foot Posture Index (FPI) between normal and flat foot children and to assess the differences between the pattern of arch and score of FPI. Patients & Methods: Clinical measurements of AI and FPI were performed on 40 subjects (18 boys and 22 girls), aged from 5 to 7 years referred to Adabian Rehabilitation Center, Kermanshah, Iran. The study was carried out from May to September, 2012. These clinical measurements were then compared according to AI and FPI in right and left foot between healthy and flat foot children. Results: All two clinical measures demonstrated significant associations for left and right foot between healthy and flexible flatfoot of children (P < 0.05). Mann-Whitney test showed that the mean of AI for the left and right foot in healthy children was significantly lower than flatfoot children (P < 0.001). Also, the mean of FPI for the left and right foot in healthy children was significantly lower compared to the corresponding foot in flatfoot children (P < 0.001). Conclusions: According to our results, these clinical measurements would provide valid information regarding the structure of the medial longitudinal arch.

Background: Drop-foot syndrome is a disorder in which the dorsiflexor muscles are weakened or completely paralyzed, leading to foot slapping after the initial contact and foot-dragging during the swing phase. Passive and hybrid passive ankle-foot orthoses (AFOs) are often prescribed as an intervention for this disorder; however, the effects of these AFOs on kinetic parameters during the gait of drop-foot patients seem unclear. This study aimed to compare the affected lower limb joints of ankle, knee, and hip kinetics parameters (moments and powers) during walking in drop-foot patients using an innovative AFO storing-restoring hybrid passive AFO, named “Comfort Gait” and posterior leaf spring (PLS) AFO. Methods: Ten drop-foot patients were recruited in the current study to walk at a comfortable self-selected speed while wearing two different AFO selections. Kinetic parameters with a motion capture system were obtained for these patients. Results: The results of this study revealed a significant increase in the peak values of kinetic parameters of the lower limb of the affected side (ankle, knee, and hip moments and powers) with the innovative designed AFO when compared to PLS AFO (P<0.05). Conclusions: The significant increase of kinetic parameters in drop foot with use of the Comfort Gait as compared to the PLS AFO might suggest the effectiveness of this innovative AFO in improving the gait of foot drop patients more than the use of PLS AFO. Level of Evidence: Level II

Background: X- ray images provide accurate and reliable data in different foot pathologies. However, the accompanied complications will limit its use for epidemiological studies and research purposes, especially in children. Therefore, simple, accessible, and cost- effective methods such as footprint, with a good correlation with x-ray images, are needed to help diagnose different foot pathologies. In the present study, the accuracy of footprint technique in assessing hallux valgus angle (HVA) was evaluated based on x-ray images through measuring the angle between the medial border protrusion of the foot and the hallux. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 42 participants with symptomatic hallux valgus were recruited. HVA was measured by both x-ray imaging and footprint. The differences between the two approaches were identified by applying correlation-coefficient test and reliability, which was assessed using interclass correlation (ICC). Results: A significant correlation was found between the HVA measured by x-ray and HVA by footprints (p< 0.001), and the ICC was upper than 90%. Conclusion: Foot print is a reliable method for measuring HVA, as it was highly correlated with the HVAs obtained by x-ray imaging.

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