Modification of Pronated Foot Posture after a Program of Therapeutic Exercises.

Raquel Sánchez-Rodríguez,Peñas Albas Fraile-García,Beatriz Gómez-Martín,Alfonso Martínez-Nova,Elena Escamilla-Martínez,Sandra Valle-Estévez

doi:10.3390/ijerph17228406

Raquel Sánchez-Rodríguez, Peñas Albas Fraile-García + Show 4 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17228406

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Abstract

Working on the intrinsic musculature of the foot has been shown to be effective in controlling pronation. However, the potential coadjuvant effect that involving other muscle groups might have on foot posture remains unknown. The aim was, therefore, to assess whether a 9-week intrinsic and extrinsic foot and core muscle strength program influenced foot posture in pronated subjects. The participants were 36 healthy adults with pronated feet that were randomly assigned to two groups. The experimental group (n = 18) performed a strengthening exercise protocol for 9 weeks (two sessions of 40 min per week), while the control group (n = 18) did not do these exercises. After 9 weeks, the foot posture index (FPI) scores of the two groups were analyzed to detect possible changes. The FPI at the baseline was 8.0 ± 1.5. After the 9 weeks, the experimental group showed significantly reduced FPI from 8.1 ± 1.7 to 6.4 ± 2.1 (p = 0.001), while the control group had the same score as pre-intervention (FPI 8 ± 1.2, p = 1.0). The FPI scores showed no significant differences by sex. Strengthening of the intrinsic and extrinsic foot and core muscles contributed to improving foot posture in adults, reducing their FPI by 1.66 points.

Highlights

Foot pronation is a natural movement, necessary for the normal development of gait, since it contributes to the absorption of the ground reaction forces [1,2]
Pronated foot posture is common in adulthood, with a prevalence of around 21% [5], and it may be related to deformities of the first ray of the foot, such as the hallux valgus [6,7]
The objective of this study was to establish a protocol of exercises for the short and extrinsic foot and core muscles, lasting 9 weeks, and to evaluate the possible modification of the foot posture in adult subjects with pronated feet

Summary

Introduction

Foot pronation is a natural movement, necessary for the normal development of gait, since it contributes to the absorption of the ground reaction forces [1,2]. Pronated feet present rearfoot eversion and dorsiflexion with abduction of the forefoot in a static position, and in addition, have a strong relationship with the medial longitudinal arch (MLA). Pronated foot posture is common in adulthood, with a prevalence of around 21% [5], and it may be related to deformities of the first ray of the foot, such as the hallux valgus [6,7]. This biomechanical alteration can affect other areas, such as the knee [8]. Pronation influences the time and intensity of lumbopelvic muscle activation, giving rise to low back pain or other dysfunctions at that level [9]

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