The Effect of an Eight-Week Corrective Exercise Program on Plantar Pressure Distribution Pattern in Adolescents with Genu Varum Deformity during Stance Phase of Walking

The aim of this study was to determine the effect of an eight-week corrective exercise program on plantar pressure distribution pattern in adolescents with genu varum deformity. 12 male adolescents aged between 13 and 17 with genu varum deformity were assigned in experimental group and 12 subjects without this deformity were selected as the control group. Foot plantar pressure measurement system was used to measure foot plantar parameters in stance phase of walking. Experimental group received an eight-week corrective exercise program. A pretest and posttest was conducted in the beginning and at the end of the study. The data were analyzed by independent and dependent t tests (P<0.05). Pretest results showed that the experimental group had a greater plantar peak pressure under the toes 2-5 areas in comparison with the control group (P=0.018). Moreover, the center of foot pressure in the exterior-interior lateral direction in the heel contact phase had more supination (P=0.049). Corrective exercises reduced peak plantar pressure in the toes 2-5 region in the experimental group (P=0.022) while no significant difference was observed in the amounts of the center of foot pressure in the interior-exterior lateral direction (P􀒹0.05). According to the findings of this study, it can be concluded that corrective exercises improves plantar pressure distribution pattern among individuals with genu varum as well as the walking pattern.