EFFECT OF MEDIAL ARCH SUPPORT ON LOWER LIMB ALIGNMENT IN INDIVIDUALS WITH FLAT FOOT

Abstract

Flexible flatfoot is defined as a condition in which the medial longitudinal arch of foot collapses during weight-bearing stance. The deformation into flatfoot is induced when the medial longitudinal arch has descended because the arch had been excessively relaxed to the extent that the arch cannot be maintained and causes the feet to be excessively pronated compared to normal feet so that heel eversion appears and weight load is shifted inward to compress the medial longitudinal arch. Methods fifty subjects (both male and female) who had flexible flat foot were recruited on the basis of the result of Navicular Drop Test. Lower limb alignment was measured in form of four variables ( Navicular height, Q-angle, Rear foot angle and patella-apex tibial tuberosity alignment) with and without medial arch support. Mean Pre-test values for left and right knee Q- angle ;left and right foot navicular height ; left and right patella apex tibial alignment and right and left rear foot angle are 18.74±2.54 ,18.64±2.58, 28.56±4.87,28.98±4.62 ,15.22±2.80 ,15.40±2.88 and 9.14±2.20,9.40±1.65 respectively .Mean post-test values left and right knee Q- angle ;left and right foot navicular height ; left and right patella apex tibial alignment and right and left rear foot angle are18.74 ±3.33,19.02± 3.35,33.34± 4.75,33.88± 4.40, 15.20±2.77, 15.76±2.83 and8.66±2.037,8.80±1.84 respectively. The result of this study shows the significant difference in navicular height and re