Effects of short foot exercise on Q-angle in individuals with flatfoot

Abstract

Background: Flatfoot is a predominant chronic condition associated with lower extremity musculoskeletal injuries. Current studies have illustrated that a flatfoot deformity may result in an increased Q-angle which can cause knee disorders. Short foot exercise (SFE) is a broadly acknowledged strategy for strengthening the intrinsic foot muscles. The exercise is recommended to be performed to improve the medial longitudinal arch (MLA). However, there is a lack of studies examining the effects of SFE on the Q-angle. Objectives: The primary purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of SFE on Q-angle in individuals with flatfoot. The second purpose was to examine the effects of SFE on the navicular drop test (NDT). Materials and methods: This randomized controlled trial study included 16 participants aged 18-25 years with flexible flatfoot on both feet based on the results of NDT. Q-angle and NDT were measured at the beginning of the study. The participants were randomly assigned to either the experimental or control groups. The experimental group performed SFE three days a week for five consecutive weeks, while the control group did not perform the exercise. Q-angle and NDT were reassessed after five weeks of the exercise. Results: Q-angle significantly decreased in the exercise group after the program for both legs (Right leg: from 21.62±1.87 to 19.83±1.63 degrees; Left leg: from 21.42±1.92 to 20.04±1.89 degrees). In addition, NDT significantly improved in the exercise group after SFE for both feet (Right foot: from 11.08±1.18 to 6.83±2.09 mm; Left foot: from 10.58±1.50 to 6.58±1.60 mm). Conclusion: This present study demonstrated that SFE effectively improved Q-angle and NDT in individuals with flexible flatfoot.