Presence Of Flatfoot Research Articles

Frouxidão ligamentar e pé plano em crianças normais

Objective: To study the correlation between flatfoot and joint laxity in healthy children. Methods: We evaluated 328 children with ages between 3 to 15 years, with no previous musculoskeletal complaints. We classified them by the presence of joint laxity according to the Beighton and Horan criteria, and by the presence of flatfoot according to the Valenti classification. The data obtained werecorrelated with gender, age, ethnic group, and dominant side. Fisher's exact test and chi-square test were applied to analyze theresults. Results: A percentage of 83.9% ofindividuals with joint laxity was observed in children younger than 7 years of age (p < 0.001*). There is a significant association between joint laxity and gender (p = 0.025*), as girlsexhibited a greater percentage of laxity (51.02%). We observed a significant association between joint laxity and type of foot (p =0.003*), since the flatfooted group presented a higher percentage of laxity (54.96%). Flatfoot was also associated to joint laxity when we considered only the males (p = 0.001*), which was not observed in the females group. Conclusion: In the population studied, joint laxity was more frequently observed in children younger than 7 years of age, in females, and in individuals with flatfoot. There was no association between joint laxity and ethnic group or dominant side.

Relationship of flatfoot and high arch with main anthropometric variables

The deformities of flatfoot (pes planus) and high arch (pes cavus) are serious health problems causing gait and postural defects in all age groups. The aim of this study was to seek relationships of these two deformities with main anthropometric variables in adults. This study was carried out in 516 community individuals (253 males, 263 females) aged between 18 to 83 years, living in Ankara, Turkey. The mean age was 40.5+/-13.4 years in males, and 43.3+/-14.9 years in females. The participants were analyzed in five age brackets, namely 18-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, and = or > 60 years. The presence of flatfoot or high arch was determined by the analysis of footprints. A total of five anthropometric variables were measured including body weight, body height, foot length, metatarsal width, and heel width. Body mass index (BMI) was calculated and shoe size of the individuals was recorded, as well. The incidences of flatfoot and high arch were 4.1% (n=21) and 1.2% (n=6), respectively. There were no significant differences between sex and age groups with respect to the frequency of both deformities (p>0.05). No associations were found between the presence of flatfoot or high arch and body weight, body height, BMI, foot length, metatarsal width, and shoe size (p>0.05). Only heel width showed a significant association with the presence of flatfoot (p=0.027). These findings suggest that the presence of high arch is not related to body composition and foot dimensions, while flatfoot is associated only with heel width.

A comparison of insole materials on plantar pressure and comfort in the neuroischaemic diabetic foot

group also showed a statistically higher RL under the MF (NF = 17 ± 5%***; NN = 14 ± 7%**; HF = 11 ± 2%*), indicating that the lower arch could be responsible for the increase in loads under the MF, and this finding agreed with Menz et al. (2005). On the other hand, HF group showed significantly higher RL under the rearfoot (30 ± 4%***) comparing to NF (24 ± 4%*) and NN (25 ± 8%**). Table 1 presents the results of PP in all regions of the foot for three groups. Although CA under RF for the NF was significantly higher than in HN, the RL under this region was not high on the first group, and that difference on the gait pattern may contribute to raise the loads under the midfoot. This, however, seems to happen mainly because of the different foot anthropometry in the NF group. There was no correlation between the arch index and PP, just as van Schie et al. (2000) and Cavanagh et al. (2003) demonstrated. But our findings suggest, as Morag et al. (1999), that the arch index can be a predictor for elevated PP in the MF. The presence of flat feet led to an increase in PP in the MF and FF. The neuropathy itself can contribute for an increase of plantar pressure under the FF probably because of a failure in the capacity of shock attenuation under the FF during the flat foot phase in gait (Sacco and Amadio, 2003). In addition to that, the low arch may lead to a great risk of ulceration in the forefoot.

Foot pain and disability in individuals with Ehlers – Danlos syndrome (EDS): Impact on daily life activities

Purpose: to investigate the amount and severity of podiatric problems in individuals with EDS as well as the consequences on daily life activities, and to compare these results with the results from a comparison group of the general population.Method: The Manchester Foot Pain and Disability Schedule (MFPDS) and a demographic and foot-specific form were mailed.Results: One hundred and thirty-six individuals with EDS and 292 from the comparison group responded. The median MFPDS total score in the EDS group was 33 (range 17 – 49) (mean 32, SD 8) and in the comparison group 17 (range 17 – 41) (mean 19, SD 4) (P < 0.001). The items most frequently marked with 3 points in the EDS group were: ‘I avoid standing for a long time’, ‘I catch the bus or use the car more often’, and ‘I get irritable when my feet hurt’ (55, 46 and 43%, respectively). When comparing the NRS scores (i.e. Numeric Rating Scale) regarding pain intensity between the EDS group (median 5) and the comparison group (median 0), a statistically significant difference was found (P < 0.001). Other foot problems than pain were reported by 73% (n = 100) of the EDS group and by 21% (n = 60) of the comparison group (P < 0.001). The presence of flat feet in the EDS group and the comparison group was reported by 55% (n = 75) and 8% (n = 23), respectively.Conclusions: Individuals' with EDS endure difficulties with their mobility due to their foot problems and related disability. It is therefore of utmost importance to find ways to assess the actual foot status for this group and to support the individuals with solutions to their problems with ambulation.

Orthopaedic aspects of fragile-X syndrome.

Fragile-X syndrome is one of the most common inherited forms of mental retardation. An associated connective-tissue disorder involving elastin accounts for the most frequent musculoskeletal manifestations, which include severe flexible flat feet, excessive laxity of the joints, and scoliosis. At our institution, seventy-five (50 per cent) of the 150 male patients who had fragile-X syndrome had flat feet, eighty-five (57 per cent) had excessive laxity of the joints, and ten had scoliosis. Twenty-nine of the patients who had flat feet had been evaluated or treated, or both, by an orthopaedic surgeon before the diagnosis of fragile-X syndrome had been made. Only one of these patients had been referred for developmental and genetic evaluation, which suggests that the orthopaedic community is not familiar with this syndrome. The orthopaedist should consider the diagnosis of fragile-X syndrome in the evaluation of a mentally retarded boy or man who has a family history of mental retardation. The presence of flat feet and excessive laxity of the joints, associated with the characteristic facies, macro-orchidism, and behavior, justifies a referral for developmental and genetic evaluation. Early diagnosis is important for several reasons, including genetic counseling for the family, more efficacious medical treatment, and specialized education.