Prevalence Of Flatfoot Research Articles

Prevalence of flat foot and its relationship with BMI among school students.

Prevalence of flat foot and its relationship with BMI among school students.

The Influence of Footwear on the Prevalence of Flat Foot

The Influence of Footwear on the Prevalence of Flat Foot

Plantar Pressure Analysis on Polyurethane Foam Materials in Footwear Exclusive for Overweight/Obese

The overweight/obese individuals, in general, develop varied foot consequences during walk of life. The body weight and the prevalence of flat foot on the plantar surface are the primary indicators for the discomfort in respect of high BMI individuals. The body weight has been implicated as a factor in plantar heel [4, 11, 12]. The role of PU foam materials is of greater importance to render therapeutic advantages in footwear. The PU foam materials are widely used as varied elements in footwear and the consumers’ gain benefits and sense of satisfaction on comfort parameters. The main objective of research is to scientifically investigate the characteristics PU foam materials and explore these materials for plantar pressure analysis using In-shoe pressure measurement device on footwear designed and developed exclusively for overweight/obese individuals. The foot or thoses are commonly used in the conservative treatment of plantar fasciitis and are helpful to reduce the symptoms of strain during standing and ambulation [1,5,6,7].The investigation on PU foam materials and their efficacy as footwear inserts to provide therapeutic solutions especially for high BMI individuals has been not scientifically attempted in the domain of footwear research. Hence, the investigation on choosing ideal material thereby minimising the foot related problems being experienced by high BMI individuals is aimed at using plantar pressure analysis in this paper. The polyurethane foam materials possessing uniform substance of 4mm with varied densities such as D55, D75, D95 and D120 have been assessed on a range of physical characteristics such as Density, Hardness, Compression set followed Resiliency and cushioning behaviours. These materials are employed as foot inserts in footwear specifically designed and developed for overweight/obese individuals and the pressure analysis has been carried out using In-shoe pressure measurement method in the phase of human locomotion. Based on the results obtained on pressure analysis experiments, the ideal material aid in alleviating foot problems of high BMI individuals has been scientifically revealed and recommended to the beneficiaries.

Flatfoot in school-age children: prevalence and associated factors.

Flatfoot has been shown to cause abnormal stresses on the foot and lower extremity. The altered mechanical stresses on these structures can aggravate the foot deformity. Screening of the flatfoot and its associated factors helps detect underlying risks influencing the stresses on the foot. The purpose of this study was to analyze the structure of the medial foot arch and investigate its associated factors in students, aged 7 to 14 years. Multistage cluster sampling was used and each cluster included 2 other random sampling levels. A total of 667 Iranian school children were recruited and their feet were bilaterally evaluated using a static footprint while standing in a fully weightbearing position. The footprint, an observational measurement, and a questionnaire were used for the foot assessment. The prevalence of flatfoot was 17.1% in the population studied. There was no gender difference but the prevalence of flatfoot did decrease with age. The significant differences were observed in the prevalence of flatfoot between normal-weight, overweight, and obese groups (P < .01); more overweight participants had flatter feet. This study demonstrated that development of the longitudinal plantar arch in school-age children is influenced by age and weight. Age and weight were the primary predictive factors of flatfoot. Prognostic, Level IV: Case series.

Prevalence of Flexible Flatfoot Among School-Age Girls

Background: Flatfoot in children is one of the most common conditions referred to physiatrists for evaluation and treatment. It is caused by the collapse of the medial longitudinal arch of the foot. Objectives: The study aimed to determine the prevalence of flatfoot and factors that affect it in a population of children. Patients and Methods: About 290 elementary school girls with an age range of 6 to 11 years were included in this study. For the assessment of flatfoot, navicular drop test was used. The generalized joint laxity was measured by Beighton score. Results: Prevalence of flexible fl atfoot was 34.9%. Flatfoot prevalence was highest among six-year-old and lowest among 11-year-old children (P < 0.001). Children with joint laxity were also at higher risk of flatfoot (P = 0.01). Conclusions: This study indicates that younger school-age children with excessive joint laxity are more predisposed to develop flatfoot.

A New Noninvasive Flatfoot Detector

The exact incidence of flatfoot in children is unknown; it is very common and is, in fact, one of the most common conditions seen in pediatric orthopedic practices. The early detection of flatfeet in children can prevent many serious complications and further damage to other body parts, such as the knee and the lower back, later in life. Early detection can allow for permanent correction of foot deformities. The available method to detect flatfoot in Sudan is visual inspection, and it is a poor, subjective, and inaccurate method. This research was aimed to design and implement an electronic device capable of monitoring the foot condition and early detection of flatfoot in children as to minimize the cost of the investigation and detection of flatfoot. The design consists of ultrasonic sensor, motor driver, direct current (DC) motor, and LCD. In the designed device, the ultrasonic sensor measures the distance and height of foot arch; the microcontroller was programmed to compare the measured readings with the normal foot parameters. The motor driver was used to control the DC motor. On the other hand, the DC motor drives the sensor along the foot. All the previous steps were controlled by a microcontroller. Finally, the LCD will display the obtained result. The project was tested in the group of 5- to 7-year-old children, it was found that the prevalence of flatfoot decreased significantly with age; in the group of 5-year-old children, 71% showed a flatfoot, whereas in the group of 7-year-old children, only 67% had a flatfoot. Boys had a significantly greater tendency for flatfoot than girls: the prevalence of flatfoot in boys was 85% and 29% in girls. Nineteen percent of the children were overweight or obese. Significant differences in prevalence of flatfoot between overweight, obese, and normal-weight children were observed. The result of the designed flatfoot detector was compared with diagnosis of the cases by specialized physicians; the diagnosis results were perfectly matching the designed device ones. It can be concluded that the designed flatfoot detector has the ability to detect flatfoot in children as well as adults.

The association of foot structure and footwear fit with disability in children and adolescents with Down syndrome.

BackgroundFoot deformity, flat feet, and the use of ill-fitting footwear are common in children and adolescents with Down syndrome (DS). The aim of this study was to determine whether these observations are associated with foot-specific disability in this group.MethodsA cross-sectional study design. Foot structure (foot posture determined using the Arch Index, presence of hallux valgus and lesser toe deformities) and footwear fit (determined by length and width percentage differences between the participant’s foot and footwear) were assessed in 50 participants with DS (22 females, 28 males) aged five to 18 with a mean (SD) age of 10.6 (3.9) years. Foot-specific disability was determined using the parent-reported Oxford Ankle Foot Questionnaire for Children (OxAFQ-C). Associations between foot structure and footwear fit with the four domains (Physical, School and play, Emotional and Footwear) of the OxAFQ-C were determined using multivariate regression modelling.ResultsThe mean (SD) Arch Index was 0.29 (0.08), and the prevalence of flat feet, hallux valgus and lesser toe deformities was 76%, 10% and 12% respectively. Few participants wore footwear that was too short (10%), but the use of footwear that was too narrow was common (58%). The presence of hallux valgus was significantly associated with increased disability for the OxAFQ-C School and play domain scores. The use of narrow-fitting footwear was significantly associated with increased levels of disability for the OxAFQ-C Physical, School and play, and Emotional domains. However, these variables only explained between 10% to 14% of the variance in the OxAFQ-C domain scores. There were no significant associations between foot structure and footwear fit with the OxAFQ-C Footwear domain scores.ConclusionsFlatter feet and lesser toe deformities are not associated with foot-specific disability in children and adolescents with DS. Hallux valgus is associated with foot-specific disability during school and play activities. Ill-fitting footwear (too narrow) is common and is associated with foot-specific disability. Further research is required to identify if the relationship between narrow-fitting footwear and foot-specific disability is causal, and to identify other factors associated with foot-specific disability in children and adolescents with DS.

Validity of footprint analysis to determine flatfoot using clinical diagnosis as the gold standard in a random sample aged 40 years and older.

BackgroundResearch is needed to determine the prevalence and variables associated with the diagnosis of flatfoot, and to evaluate the validity of three footprint analysis methods for diagnosing flatfoot, using clinical diagnosis as a benchmark.MethodsWe conducted a cross-sectional study of a population-based random sample ≥40 years old (n = 1002) in A Coruña, Spain. Anthropometric variables, Charlson’s comorbidity score, and podiatric examination (including measurement of Clarke’s angle, the Chippaux-Smirak index, and the Staheli index) were used for comparison with a clinical diagnosis method using a podoscope. Multivariate regression was performed. Informed patient consent and ethical review approval were obtained.ResultsPrevalence of flatfoot in the left and right footprint, measured using the podoscope, was 19.0% and 18.9%, respectively. Variables independently associated with flatfoot diagnosis were age (OR 1.07), female gender (OR 3.55) and BMI (OR 1.39). The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) showed that Clarke’s angle is highly accurate in predicting flatfoot (AUC 0.94), followed by the Chippaux-Smirak (AUC 0.83) and Staheli (AUC 0.80) indices. Sensitivity values were 89.8% for Clarke’s angle, 94.2% for the Chippaux-Smirak index, and 81.8% for the Staheli index, with respective positive likelihood ratios or 9.7, 2.1, and 2.0.ConclusionsAge, gender, and BMI were associated with a flatfoot diagnosis. The indices studied are suitable for diagnosing flatfoot in adults, especially Clarke’s angle, which is highly accurate for flatfoot diagnosis in this population.

Obesidad infantil: factor de riesgo para desarrollar pie plano

BackgroundIn Mexico, the prevalence of overweight and obesity is 34.4% in school-age children (ENSANUT 2012), which may induce a vicious cycle of flatfoot-plantalgia-sedentarism-obesity, although the presence and degree of flatfoot in school-age children with obesity has not yet been described in a Mexican population. The objective of the study was to determine the prevalence of flatfoot and its association with obesity in school-age children living in Tampico. MethodsAn analytical and cross-sectional study with 1128 students, 48.8% male and 51.2% female, 9- to 11-years of age. Anthropometric measurements (weight and height) were performed. Body mass index (BMI) was calculated and obesity was considered a BMI percentile >95. Plantar footprint was photographed via a podoscope using Denis classification to diagnose flatfoot grades. ResultsThe prevalence of overweight/obesity was 49.1% and of flatfoot was 12.1% (male: 8.1%, female: 4%, p = 0.28). The association between obesity and flatfoot was significant (p <0.001) and there was a 2.5 times higher risk of overweight-obese children compared to those of normal weight. ConclusionsThere is an association between obesity and flatfoot. We suggest implementing secondary prevention measures in this population.

An investigation of the factors affecting flatfoot in children with delayed motor development

This study investigated the prevalence of flatfoot in children with delayed motor development and the relevant factors affecting it. In total, 121 preschool-aged children aged 3-6 with delayed motor development (male: 81; female: 40) were enrolled in the motor-developmentally delayed children group, and 4 times that number, a total of 484 children (male: 324; female: 160), of gender- and age-matched normal developmental children were used as a control group for further analyses. The age was from 3.0 to 6.9 years old for the participants. The judgment criterion of flatfoot was the Chippaux-Smirak index >62.70%, in footprint measurement. The results showed that the prevalence of flatfoot in children with motor developmental delay was higher than that in normal developmental children, approximately 58.7%, and that it decreased with age from 62.8% of 3-year-olds to 50.0% of 6-year-olds. The results also showed that motor-developmentally delayed children with flatfoot are at about 1.5 times the risk of normal developmental children (odds ratio=1.511, p=0.005). In addition, the prevalence of flatfoot is relatively higher in overweight children with delayed motor development, and that in obese children is even as high as 95.8% (23/24). Children with both excessive joint laxity and delayed development are more likely to suffer from flatfoot. The findings of this study can serve as a reference for clinical workers to deal with foot issues in children with delayed motor development.

Prevalence of Flatfoot and Anthropometric Comparison Between Flat and Normal Feet in the Hausa Ethnic Group of Nigeria

Flat arches in children usually become proper arches and high arches as the child progresses through adolescence and into adulthood. Only if the deformity persists or presents in adolescence or adulthood is it considered abnormal. We sought to determine the incidence of flatfoot in schoolchildren and to make an anthropometric comparison between flat and normal feet with respect to age and sex in the Hausa ethnic group of Nigeria. Two hundred 9- to 14-year-old students (100 boys and 100 girls) were studied. Navicular height, medial malleolar height, lateral malleolar height, foot length, and transverse arch length were measured with a ruler, marker, and measuring tape. Statistical analysis was conducted using analysis of variance and independent-samples t tests (P < .05). The overall prevalence of flatfoot was 10% (n = 20) (7% in boys [n = 7] and 13% in girls [n = 13]). Statistically significant differences were found in all of the measured parameters except foot length. This study showed that flatfoot has a higher incidence in girls than in boys in the Hausa ethnic group, with the incidence decreasing with age. Girls had a higher incidence of flatfoot than boys, and it was also influenced by age.

Flat foot and associated factors among primary school children: A cross-sectional study

Abstract Prevalence of flat foot and its associated personal characteristics among public primary school students was investigated. This cross-sectional study involved 474 public primary school students (253 females and 221 males) between the ages of 6 and 10 years. Flat foot diagnosis was made using Staheli plantar index (PI), where values >1.15 were indicative of flat foot. The number of children diagnosed with flat foot was 106, yielding a prevalence rate of 22.4%. Flexible flat foot accounted for 93 (87.7%) of the positive diagnoses, whereas bilateral flat foot was present in 97 (91.5%) of the cases. There was a significant relationship between higher prevalence of pes planus and older age, with the 6-year-old group showing the highest prevalence. Boys were twice as likely to be diagnosed with flat foot as girls, and obese participants were three and a half times more likely to have flat foot compared with those of normal weight. In summary, about one in every five public primary school children aged 6–10 years would be diagnosed with flat foot anomaly, and obesity further increased the risk. Preregistration flat foot screening, and periodic observation for onset of symptoms of progression, should be made available for primary school children.

Prevalence of flatfoot in school between 3 and 10 years. Study of two different populations geographically and socially

Children present with flatfoot from birth and it resolves along infancy. There have been several risk factors identified for the development of flatfoot: male sex, young age, overweight and obesity. The prevalence of flatfoot decreases with age. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of flatfoot in two different populations with different social, cultural and geographically characteristics in Colombia. This is a cross sectional study made on school children between 3 to 10 years of age, from several schools in Bogota and Barranquilla. From 940 total children 60% were from Bogota. Flatfoot was diagnosed according to physical exam. We found a global prevalence of flatfoot of 15.7%, distributed 20.8% in Bogota and 7.9% in Barranquilla. The children from 3 to 5 years had a prevalence of 30.9%, decreasing significantly after this age. It was found that children 3 to 5 years old from Bogota had a prevalence of flatfoot of 38.3% while children from Barranquilla only 17.3%, decreasing significantly in children older than 6 years. In the multivariate analysis we found an association between flatfoot with age, city, gender and body mass index. We found a bigger prevalence of flatfoot in the population of Bogota compared to Barranquilla suggesting an influence of social, cultural and racial factors in the development of flatfoot. The diminished prevalence of flatfoot in children over 6 years of age suggest that therapeutic measures before this age are not recommended.

Predictive factors for flatfoot: The role of age and footwear in children in urban and rural communities in South West Nigeria

Background Flatfoot is common in children and its prevalence influenced by several factors. This study investigated the role of age and type of foot wear as predictors of flatfoot in school age children in urban and rural areas in south-western Nigeria. Methods 560 children between 6 and 12 years, divided into two groups; rural and urban were studied. Each subject's static footprint was taken on a white duplicating paper after which the instep was measured for classification into high arch, normal, flat or severe flat. The BMI of each subject was calculated from the anthropometric data. The type of footwear with which the subjects were shod was also recorded. Data analysis was by Epi Info statistical package version 3.5.1 (2008). Results Chi-square showed a significant ( p < 0.05) association between the presence of flatfoot, age and type of footwear. Comparison of the prevalence of flatfoot by age group indicated a significant difference at age 10 years. Simple logistic regressions, however, showed that age was a significant ( p < 0.05) predictor for flat foot while the type of footwear was not. Conclusion In this study, age is the primary predictor for flatfoot while the type of footwear is not.

Relevant factors influencing flatfoot in preschool-aged children

The aim of this study was to discuss the influence of age, gender, obesity status, joint laxity, and the W-sitting habit on flatfoot in preschool-aged children. A total of 1,598 children (833 boys and 765 girls) between 3 and 6 years of age from kindergartens in the central area of Taiwan were studied. The children were divided into a normal group (n = 733), a unilateral flatfoot group (n = 266), and a bilateral flatfoot group (n = 599), and a multinomial logistic regression model was used to analyze the data. The prevalence of flatfoot decreased significantly with increasing age: 54.5% of 3-year-old but only 21% for 6-year-old children had bilateral flatfoot. In the bilateral flatfoot group, the risk decreased with increased age, increased with increasing weight beyond the normal range, and was higher for boys than girls. Age and obesity status were not significantly influential in the unilateral flatfoot group. Children with higher joint laxity and a habit of W-sitting also experienced higher risk in both flatfoot groups. In conclusion, this study demonstrates a significant association of age, gender, obesity status, joint laxity, and the W-sitting habit with the bilateral flatfoot in preschool-aged children. Children with unilateral flatfoot differ from those with normal feet and bilateral flatfoot. It is suggested that the unilateral flatfoot deserves special attention in future studies.

The Prevalence of Flatfoot in Taoyuan Teenagers

Background: The prevalence of flatfoot is various among each age group, and whether children with flatfoot should receive treatment or not is still controversial. Most studies of flatfoot in Taiwan place emphases on children but not on teenagers. This research aimed to establish a database of a prevalence of flatfoot among Taiwanese local teenagers. Methods: Five hundred forty-four 12- to 14-year-old teenagers in Taoyuan were enrolled in this study. Footprint analysis methods were used to diagnose a flatfoot (plantar arch index more than 1.15 or Denis grade equal or more than grade 1 or footprint index less than 1 cm). The height, body weight, and body mass index were recorded and compared using independent t tests to identify the statistical significances between teenagers with and without a flatfoot. Results: The prevalence of flatfoot in teenagers in Taoyuan, Taiwan, ranged from 11.6% to 37.6%. This variation was attributed to the different footprint analysis methods used. The prevalence of flatfoot was highly correlated with body weight and body mass index. Conclusions: The prevalence of flatfoot in teenagers in Taoyuan, Taiwan, was relatively higher than that reported in other studies. The causes may be the initial differences between races and the increased body weight of teenagers in Taiwan. These hypotheses need further studies to confirm.

Prevalence of flat foot among elementary school students, in rural and urban areas and at suburbs in Anatolia

About 326 elementary school boys and 299 elementary school girls of an age ranging from 6 to 13 are included in this flat foot prevalence study. Results of the study are categorized in three groups, namely city centers, rural areas and suburbs. For the assessment of flat foot, footprint test is used. Prevalence of flat foot was 35.5% among girls and 28.5% among boys. Flat foot was associated with child age, residency and body mass index (BMI). Flat foot prevalence was highest among 6-year-old children, and lowest among 11-year and older children (P < 0.05). Flat foot prevalence was lower among children living in rural areas and children with low BMI value (P = 0.001). More overweight and at risk of overweight children had flat foot compared to normal and underweight children (P < 0.05). Familial predisposition was also noted for flat foot; 16.1% of children with flat foot had a familial history of flat foot, while this rate was only 5.6% in families of healthy subjects (P = 0.001).

Incidence of Pes planus amongst the people of Cross River State

The incidence of Pes planus was determined among the people of Cross River State. A total of 1000 individuals comprising 500 males and 500 females of Cross River State origin and aged 20-30 years were used to assess the prevalence of Pes planus. All volunteers involved in the study had no deformities or previous fractures of the lower extremities especially of the foot. For each volunteer, bilateral plantar prints were obtained using ink procedure method. All prints were counted, separated into sexes and the incidence of flat foot calculated for both sexes. A total of 111 individuals had flat foot comprising 44 males and 67 females. The overall incidence of Pes planus was 22.20% with a prevalence of 8.80% amongst males and 13.40% amongst females. Bilateral flat foot was more common in females (11.20%) than in males (6.00%). Unilateral flat foot was more common in males (2.80%) than in females (2.20%). Our result shows that the prevalence of flat foot is higher amongst the females than the males in Cross River State with the prevalence being 22.20%.

Flatfoot Prevalence and Foot Dimensions of 5– to 13-Year-Old Children in Taiwan

The prevalence of flatfeet in normal and obese children has not been studied well in the past. The prevalence of flatfoot and foot dimensions of school children in Taiwan were investigated in this study. One thousand twenty-four school children (549 boys and 475 girls) aged 5 to 13 years participated in this study. Fifteen foot dimensions were measured using a 3D coordinate measuring probe, digital tape measure and Harris mat imprint. Two-way ANOVA was conducted to evaluate the flatfoot and obesity effects on foot dimensions as well as on the change in foot size between weightbearing and nonweightbearing conditions. The prevalence of flatfoot for 5- to 13-year-old children was 28% with a decreasing trend with age. Boys had a significantly higher frequency for flatfoot than girls (chi-square = 26.3; p < 0.001). The prevalence of flatfoot was 35% in boys and 20% in girls. The percent of overweight and obese children was 20%. A significant difference in the prevalence of flatfoot occurred between normal-weight (27%), overweight (31%), and obese (56%) children (chi-square = 18.0; p < 0.001). The obesity effect was significant (p < 0.01) for most foot dimensions. However, the flatfoot effect was only significant (p < 0.05) on foot height for both genders. Obese children have a higher frequency of flatfoot, greater foot dimensions, and less change in foot width with weightbearing than normal weight children. Children with flatfeet have a lower foot height and greater foot length change than children with normal feet with weightbearing.

Prevalence of Flat Foot in Preschool-Aged Children

Prevalence of Flat Foot in Preschool-Aged Children