Abstract
Background: Foot postural alignment has been associated with altered gait pattern. This study aims to investigate gait kinematic differences in flatfoot subjects’ regarding all lower limb segments compared to neutral foot subjects. Methods: A total of 31 participants were recruited (age: 23.26 yo ± 4.43; height: 1.70 m ± 0.98; weight: 75.14 kg ± 14.94). A total of 15 subjects were integrated into the flatfoot group, and the remaining 16 were placed in the neutral foot group. All of the particpants were screened using the Navicular Drop Test and Resting Calcaneal Stance Position test to characterize each group, and results were submitted to gait analysis using a MOCAP system. Results: Significant kinematic differences between groups were found for the ankle joint dorsiflexion, abduction, and internal and external rotation (p < 0.05). Additionally, significant differences were found for the knee flexion, extension, abduction, and external rotation peak values (p < 0.001). Significant differences were also found for the hip flexion, extension, external rotation, pelvis rotation values (p < 0.02). Several amplitude differences were found concerning ankle abduction/adduction, knee flexion/extension and abduction/adduction, hip flexion/extension and rotation, and pelvis rotation (p < 0.01). Conclusion: Flatfooted subjects showed kinematic changes in their gait patterns. The impact on this condition on locomotion biomechanical aspects is clinically essential, and 3D gait biomechanical analysis use could be advantageous in the early detection of health impairments related to foot posture.
Highlights
Foot posture is usually classified into three categories: neutral (NF), cavus, and flatfoot (FF) with normal, high, and low medial longitudinal arch height, respectively
Participants who presented the following criteria were not excluded from this study: (a) any disturbance that might affect gait pattern like orthopedic, neurological or visual impairment among impairments, including current injury, pain, active ulceration, or previous amputation; (b) participation in a physiotherapy treatment program; (c) bone fracture; (d) injury or surgery to the spine, hip, knee, or ankle; (e) aged less than 18 and more than 40 years old; and(f) medication intake that can affect gait and muscle activity
Foot posture was diagnosed based on clinical procedures including the Navicular Drop Test and the Resting Calcaneal Stance Position test, as those are clinically used by practitioners worldwide [29,30,31]
Summary
Foot posture is usually classified into three categories: neutral (NF), cavus, and flatfoot (FF) with normal, high, and low medial longitudinal arch height, respectively. Regarding FF subjects, the medial longitudinal arch varies and can modify plantar pressure along the foot, affecting shock absorption, muscular activity, and gait pattern [15,16]. This study aims to investigate gait kinematic differences in flatfoot subjects’ regarding all lower limb segments compared to neutral foot subjects. Results: Significant kinematic differences between groups were found for the ankle joint dorsiflexion, abduction, and internal and external rotation (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Flatfooted subjects showed kinematic changes in their gait patterns The impact on this condition on locomotion biomechanical aspects is clinically essential, and 3D gait biomechanical analysis use could be advantageous in the early detection of health impairments related to foot posture
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