Abstract
BackgroundMaintenance of the medial longitudinal arch (MLA) of the foot is fundamental during functional tasks and disorders can lead to clinical alterations. Studies have demonstrated that deficits in ankle isokinetic performance can predispose an individual to lower limb injuries.ObjectivesTo evaluate the muscular performance of cavus, planus, and normal feet by means of torque/body mass and the isokinetic phases, to generate 3D surface map analysis, and to verify whether there is a relationship between MLA height and arch height flexibility with isokinetic performance.MethodsThe sample consisted of 105 healthy adult women, divided into three groups: normal, cavus, and planus. Assessment in concentric mode at 30, 60, and 90 °/s in the dorsiflexion and plantarflexion of the ankle joint were analyzed during the three isokinetic phases (acceleration, sustained velocity, and deceleration). The variables total range of motion, peak of torque (PT), and angle of PT were extracted within the sustained velocity.ResultsIn dorsiflexion at 60 °/s, the phase where the velocicty is sustained (load range phase) was higher in the planus group (MeanDifference=10.9 %; ω2p = 0.06) when compared with the cavus group. Deficits in the peak torque/body mass in dorsiflexion at 60 °/s (cavus feet: MD=-3 N.m/kg; ω2p = 0.06; and planus feet: MD=-1.1 N.m/kg; ω2p = 0.06) were also observed as well as in the 3D surface maps, when compared with the normal group. The flexibility of MLA had a negative correlation of PT at 30 °/s in cavus group. The heigth of MLA had a postive correlation with the PT for the cavus and planus group ate 60 °/s. All other results did not show differences between the groups.ConclusionsThe planus groups showed a better capacity of attain and sustained the velocity in dorsiflexion in relation the cavus group. The cavus and planus group had deficts in torque in relation the normal. The correlations were weak between the measures of MLA and PT. Thereby, in general the differences between foot types showed small effect in isokinetic muscle performance measures of the plantar and dorsi flexores.Trial registrationStudy design was approved by the IRB (#90238618.8.0000.5231).
Highlights
Maintenance of the medial longitudinal arch (MLA) of the foot is fundamental during functional tasks and disorders can lead to clinical alterations
R = .30 95 % confidence intervals (CI) [0.57; 0.03] was observed in the planus group, where 9 % of the Peak torque/body mass (PT/BM) variability at 60 °/s in dorsiflexion could be explained by the variability of the MLA height index of the foot (Table 4)
Data that may support the results of the current study found that planus feet showed a statistically significant difference (8.2 %) in the load range at 60 °/s in dorsiflexion, when compared to the normal group
Summary
Maintenance of the medial longitudinal arch (MLA) of the foot is fundamental during functional tasks and disorders can lead to clinical alterations. Studies suggest that a relationship between the medial longitudinal arch of the foot (MLA) and the biomechanical alterations of the lower limb may predispose a person to pain and injuries such as lateral ankle sprain [1, 2]. There is a shortening of soft tissues that support the longitudinal arch, such as the plantar fascia and tibialis posterior muscles, with common ankle instability and lateral foot overload [10, 11], leading to abnormal stress in the medial capsuleligament structures of the foot [12]. Women have less flexibility in the MLA when compared to men [9], accompanied by greater stress in the MLA, increasing the risk of injuries such as plantar fasciitis [8]. Variations in the height of the MLA in men correlate negatively with peak torque per body mass (PT/BM) for cavus feet in plantarflexion at 120 °/s, when compared with other types of feet [19]
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