Comparison of Pedal Arch Anatomy in First and Second Grade Elementary School Students in Denpasar with Flat Foot and Normal Foot

Abstract

Flat foot is a condition which pedal arch is absent. This condition is count physiological if found in infants and children at a certain age due to incomplete development of bone structure and surrounding tissue. Flat foot is a common condition in pediatrics, which affects about 20% to 30% of the world's population. The prevalence of flat foot will decrease concomitantly with age. At two years old, 94% of children experience flat foot and only 4% at ten years old experience this condition. Most children will show complete and normal development of the sole foot at 12 years old. Pedal arch is one of the important parts that affect the anatomical structure of the lower limb and foot biomechanical. This study aims to compare the anatomical structure of the pedal arch in patients with flat foot and normal foot from Arch Height Index (AHI), Plantar Arch Index, Calcaneal Pitch Angle (CP), Talo-Horizontal Angle (TH), and Meary’s talus-first metatarsal (T-1MT). This study is an analytical study with a cross sectional approach using a sample of 30 elementary school students in Denpasar. The data obtained were analyzed using descriptive analysis and comparative test. In this study, we found significant differences in the plantar arch index and calcaneal pitch angle between students with normal foot and flat foot. We also found no significant differences in AHI, T-1MT and TH between students with normal foot and flat foot.