Can long standing affect arches of foot: A cross-sectional study between bus conductors and bank employees

Abstract

Arches of foot are curvatures found on the plantar surface of the human foot. The presence of these arches is a distinct feature of human feet. They are formed because of the wedge shape of bones and are supported and maintained by the intrinsic and extrinsic muscles, along with the ligaments in the sole of the foot. They are present right from the time of birth. These arches play a major role in bearing the weight of the body. They also act as shock absorbers, especially while jumping, and they provide protection to the soft tissue of the sole against pressure.The objective of present study is to know the effects of long-standing hours on height of arch of foot, by comparing arch index and arch angles of bus conductors, who stand for long hours with that of bank employees who relatively sit for long hours in their duty time. To compare the Stahelis plantar arch index between bus conductors and bank employees. To compare arch angle between bus conductors and bank employees.: Materials required for taking foot prints include ink pad, graph Sheet. Materials required for calculating stahelis arch index and arch index are measuring scale, protractor, ink pad, ink bottle, graph paper and compass. The subjects to be studied are 50 bus conductors and 50 bank employees within the age group of 35-55 years, who have been in service for a minimum period of 10 years.Measuring of plantar arch index is done by Stahelis arch index and arch angle by using footprints. A plantar graph of the weightbearing surface of the feet was taken on graph papers with ink pad with the subject standing erect with feet on the ground without any support.The mean arch index of the right feet of bus conductors and bank employees are .68 and .54 respectively, which is higher for bus conductors than bank employees. The mean arch index of the left feet of bus conductors and bank employees are .69 and .54 respectively, which is more for bus conductors than bank employees The mean arch angle of right feet of bus conductors and bank employees are 42.44 and 49.02 respectively, which is lesser for bus conductors than bankemployees, The mean arch angle of the left foot of bus conductors and bank employees are 43.52 and 48.12 respectively, which is lower for bus conductors than bank employees, by applying Mann whitney U “ P” value is found to be less than 0.05. The mean arch index is higher in bus conductors and arch angle is higher in bank employees. From the present study it is shown that long standing hours can be associated with increase in arch index and decrease in the arch angle of foot, suggesting decrease in the arch height of foot probably due to prolonged stress of standing on architecture of arches of foot.