Effect of Short Foot Exercises on Patients with Flexible Flat Foot: A Pre-Post Experimental Study

Abstract

Background: When one malleolus was lower than the other malleoli and calcaneal eversion with depressed medial longitudinal arch, pronated sub-talar joint and calcaneus assuming a valgus position underweight bearing condition, known as flatfoot or Pes Planus. Generally 20-30 % of the population between the age group 18-25 had the characteristic of a Pes Planus also known as flat foot. The intent of this experiment was to investigate the effect of 4 week Short Foot Exercise Program on intrinsic foot muscles leading to improvement in performance grade classified as from fair to good. Method: An experimental study conducted at Dr. D.Y. Patil College of physiotherapy, Pimpri, Pune comprising of 30 individuals using Simple Random sampling. Participants were divided into two groups 15 participant each Group A(15) was Conventional Therapy and Group B(15) was Short Foot Exercise progression. The subjects were each given a consent form. The purpose of the study was explained to all the participants and an informed consent was taken from each subject. Navicular Drop Test (r=0.92) was used as an Outcome Measure. Results: There was clinically and statistically significant difference in Group B(Short Foot Exercise Progression) than Group A(Conventional Therapy) (p<0.005 and mean of group A more than B) pre and post 2nd Week treatment and Post 4th week Treatment. Conclusion: The Short Foot Exercise is more effective in improving Medial Longitudinal Arch intrinsic muscle activation as compare to Conventional Group. The 4 week Short foot exercise program improved foot intrinsic muscle activity in people with flat foot. However Group B that is Short Foot Exercises shows better improvement in medial longitudinal arch than Group A That is Conventional Group. Key words: Pes Planus, Flat Foot, Navicular Drop Test, Foot biomechanics, 4 week Short Foot Exercise Progression.