Abstract
BackgroundChildren and young people make up an age group most vulnerable to falls. Various stability disorders may become instrumental in sustaining more frequent falls and resultant fractures. Correct morphological structure impacts overall efficiency of the foot, as well as offers significant diagnostic potential. Even minor foot disorders may affect the entire bio kinematic chain, also impacting the foot’s motility. Structural alterations within a foot may also impair balance in the standing position, and contribute to more frequent injuries. The study aimed to assess the relationship between feet deformities and postural stability deficits in schoolchildren prone to sustain accidental falls.MethodsThe study involved 200 children (101 girls and 99 boys) aged 10–15 years,randomly selected from primary schools. A 2D podoscan was used to assess the plantar part of the foot, while stabilometric examination was aided by the FreeMed dynamometric platform.ResultsCorrelation between respective variables was reflected by Spearman’s rank coefficient. The subjects’ age negatively correlated with the COP range of movement along the Y axis, and the COP surface area, while their BMI negatively correlated with the COP trajectory’s length. Step regression analysis indicated that the width of the left foot, the left foot Wejsflog index, the left foot Clark’s angle, the hallux valgus angle were the essential predictors of stabilometric variables in girls. In boys, though, predictive value was associated with Clarke’s angle of the left and right foot, Wejsflog index of the right foot, and the width of both the left and right foot.ConclusionsThere is a statistically significant correlation between morphological variables of the foot and postural stability. When assessing the key variables of the foot and their interrelationship with postural stability, the Clarke’s angle, Wejsflog index, hallux valgus angle, and foot width, should be granted due prominence in the girls. As regards the boys, the following variables were established as predictive in assessing postural stability: Clarke’s angle, Wejsflog index, and foot width.
Highlights
Children and young people make up an age group most vulnerable to falls
The length of the right foot negatively correlated with the length of the centre of foot pressure (COP) trajectory and the range of COP along the Y axis
The width of the left and right foot negatively correlated with the length of COP sway, COP surface area; the range of COP movement along the Y axis and in the X axis
Summary
Various stability disorders may become instrumental in sustaining more frequent falls and resultant fractures. The investigators focused on the issue of balance disorders as a potential causative factor. They managed to establish that it was mainly the boys (61% of the study population) who were more likely to sustain accidental fractures [2]. This assertion was corroborated by others, e.g. Halawa et al [3], Heidenkeni et al [4], Ndung’u et al [5]. Overall assessment of morphological structure of the feet, and any attendant deformities in terms of their
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