Relationship Between Flexible Flat Foot and Lumbar Proprioception

Relationship Between Flexible Flat Foot and Lumbar Proprioception

The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between flexible flatfoot and lumbar proprioception.

The human foot plays a crucial role in maintaining balance during various activities, and poor foot alignment, such as excessive subtalar joint pronation, can lead to leg, knee, and back pain. Proprioception is essential for active joint stability, as it indirectly modulates and provides motor response, helping the neuromuscular system maintain balance. Lumbar proprioception deficits can decrease the ability to assume a neutral spinal posture and coordinate muscle contraction, affecting spinal segmental function, dynamic joint stability, and good motor control. This study investigates the association between flatfoot and lumbar proprioception.

Inclusion Criteria:

• 60 subjects of both sexes (females and males) were selected and assigned into two groups
• Patient's age range was between 17 to 30 years old.
• Subjects with flexible flat foot posture according to the Navicular Drop Test by Brody method: a normal foot (between five and nine mm of navicular drop), pronated foot (more than 10 mm of navicular drop).
• Patients will be willing and able to participate in assessment without cognitive impairments that would limit their participation

Exclusion Criteria:

The potential participation was excluded when they had one of the following criteria:

• Repeated lower extremity injuries, such as fractures or deformities.
• History of surgery to the lower extremity.
• history of back surgery
• rheumatologic disorders
• spine infections
• ankle fracture
• lumbar fracture
• spondylosis
• lumbar disc bulge
• spondylolisthesis