Comparison and Relationship of Isometric Strength, Range of Motion, Ankle Mobility in Participants with Normal Medial Longitudinal Arch and Flat Foot.

Abstract

Background: The foot arch is an important structural characteristic that plays a key role in supporting weight and facilitating movement. Flat foot might result in difficulties due to changes in biomechanics and muscular imbalances.

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the differences of isometric strength, range of motion, ankle mobility in participants with normal medial longitudinal arch and flat foot.

Methods: A Comparison cum correlation cross-sectional study was conducted with twenty-eight normal medial longitudinal arch and twenty-eight with flat foot participants were randomly selected for this study. The navicular drop test was employed to identify foot arch. Handheld dynamometer, ankle joint range of motion, and Dorsiflexion Lunge Test were used to assess isometric strength, goniometer, and ankle mobility, respectively. An independent t-test was used to compare between the two independent groups. Pearson correlation coefficient was used to find the relationship between variables.

Results: The findings of this study indicated that there were statistically significant differences between participants' arch height, ankle mobility, muscular strength, and range of motion at dorsiflexion and plantar flexion. There were statistically significant relationships among all variables except calf muscle circumference with foot arch (r=.100,p=.463), and isometric muscular strength at dorsiflexion (r=.190,p=1.61). Arch height with range of motion at dorsiflexion (r=.190,p=.160), range of motion at dorsiflexion with range of motion at plantar flexion (r=.095,p=.486) for participants with normal medial longitudinal arch and participants with flat foot.

Conclusion: Findings indicate that normal medial longitudinal arch group had greater scores for all variables than flat foot group. Positive significant correlations between all variables except ankle mobility were found. The relationship between range of motion and isometric strength was less pronounced, indicating that these variables may be influenced by other biomechanical factors.