The Comparison of Functional Performance Deficits in Female University Athletes with Excessive Pronated Foot

Anatomical alignment of the lower extremity has been proposed as a risk factor for lower extremity injuries. Although, functional performance tests are dynamic tests are dynamic measures used to assess lower body function, there are limited researches on the functional performance deficits in patients with excessive pronated foot. Therefore, the aim of this study was to compare functional performance deficits in female athletes with excessive pronated foot. 20 subjects with excessive pronated foot participated in this study. Inclusion criteria consisted of no injury of lower extremities within three mounts prior to the study, no history of neuromusculoskeletal diseases, and no prior surgery. Each subject completed a demographic questionnaire, and then the measurement protocol began, with the participant’s neutral foot serving as the control. Figure 8 hop and side hop tests were used to assess the functional performance deficits in both limbs. The total time of protocol was recorded with a handheld stopwatch to the nearest 0.01 second. Navicular drop was then measured using a modified Brody technique. ANOVA test was used to compare functional performance deficits in excessive pronated and neutral feet of dominant vs. non-dominant legs (p≤0.05). The results of functional performance tests indicated that the mean of total time of functional performance was lower in the neutral foot than excessive pronated foot and a significant difference was observed in functional performance deficits between neutral and excessive pronated foot (p≤0.05). No significant difference was observed between dominant and non-dominant legs as well as in interaction between the neutral–excessive pronated feet and dominant – non-dominant legs (p≤0.05). These findings indicated the effect of excessive pronated foot on functional performance of foot.