نوع مقاله : مقاله پژوهشی
نویسندگان
1 دانشجوی دکتری، گروه آسیب شناسی و بیومکانیک ورزشی، دانشکده علوم ورزشی و تندرستی، دانشگاه تهران/ پردیس البرز، ایران
2 استاد،گروه آسیب شناسی و بیومکانیک ورزشی، دانشکده علوم ورزشی و تندرستی، دانشگاه تهران، تهران، ایران
3 استادیار،گروه آسیب شناسی و بیومکانیک ورزشی، دانشکده علوم ورزشی و تندرستی، دانشگاه تهران، تهران، ایران
کلیدواژه‌ها
موضوعات
عنوان مقاله English
نویسندگان English
Background and Purpose
The medial longitudinal arch of the foot plays a vital role in children’s daily physical activities by providing support and shock absorption during movement. A reduction or complete loss of the height of this arch is commonly referred to as flat foot, which can be classified as either flexible or rigid (1). Early identification and intervention for flat foot are crucial to prevent long-term complications. Untreated flat foot can lead to biomechanical imbalances, causing destructive effects on the leg, knee joints, and other lower limb structures over time (2).
Various non-invasive methods have been proposed to correct flat foot, with exercise playing a central role. Traditional exercises such as toe flexion and towel gathering primarily activate extrinsic foot muscles like the flexor digitorum longus (3). Recently, the Janda short foot exercise—also known as foot arching exercise—has gained attention for its ability to promote proper foot positioning. This exercise stimulates the mechanical receptors of the skin and joints, enhancing ankle proprioception and intrinsic foot muscle activation, which are essential for arch correction (4,5). Additionally, kinesio taping has been shown to improve proprioception and muscle function through sensory stimulation without restricting joint movement.
Given the similar mechanisms of action of short foot exercises and kinesio taping—increasing intrinsic foot muscle strength and enhancing ankle proprioception—this study aimed to investigate whether their combined use produces superior improvements in the medial longitudinal arch of children and adolescents with flexible flat foot.
Materials and Methods
This semi-experimental study employed a pre-test-post-test design involving 36 children and adolescents (both boys and girls) aged 8 to 12 years diagnosed with flexible flat foot. Participants were randomly assigned to two groups: an experimental group receiving the combined intervention and a control group with no intervention during the study period.
Baseline assessments included measurement of navicular drop—a reliable indicator of medial longitudinal arch height—and ankle proprioceptive function. The experimental group underwent a six-week intervention consisting of a short foot exercise program performed three times weekly, combined with kinesio tape application. The kinesio tape was applied at the end of each training session and remained on the foot for 48 hours before removal; taping was reapplied after a 24-hour break. The control group did not receive any specific treatment.
Post-intervention measurements of navicular drop and ankle proprioception were conducted for both groups. Data were analyzed using analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) to control for baseline differences, with a significance level set at 0.05.
Results
ANCOVA results revealed a significant effect of the intervention on navicular drop (P < 0.001) and ankle proprioception at 20 degrees of plantar flexion (P = 0.02). After controlling for pre-test scores, the experimental group showed significantly greater improvements in both variables compared to the control group. The effect sizes, represented by partial eta squared, were 0.28 for navicular drop and 0.16 for proprioception, indicating that 28% and 16% of the variance in these outcomes, respectively, were attributable to the intervention.
Although the decrease in navicular drop within the experimental group from pre- to post-test was not statistically significant on its own, the difference compared to the control group was significant, underscoring the efficacy of the combined intervention. The control group showed no significant change in navicular drop over the study period, emphasizing the importance of including a control group to account for natural developmental changes.
Conclusion
The findings demonstrate that a six-week combined intervention of short foot exercises and kinesio taping effectively reduces navicular drop and enhances ankle proprioception in children and adolescents with flexible flat foot. This combined approach leverages the benefits of intrinsic muscle strengthening and sensory stimulation without restricting joint mobility, making it suitable for continuous use.
Given the short duration of the intervention and the significant improvements observed, this method offers a practical and non-invasive option for early correction of flexible flat foot before structural changes become permanent. The results support the incorporation of this combined technique into clinical practice and preventive programs aimed at improving foot biomechanics and reducing the risk of future musculoskeletal complications.
Article Message
Our research introduces an effective combined method—the use of corrective short foot exercises alongside kinesio taping, which does not restrict joint movement and can be worn continuously—that significantly improves medial longitudinal arch function over a short six-week period. This combined intervention can be recommended for correcting flexible flat foot in children and adolescents, particularly before permanent structural changes occur in the foot’s architecture
کلیدواژه‌ها English
