Comparison of Electromyographic Activity of Knee Muscles in Women with Foot Deformities during Single Leg Jump-Landing

Hyper pronation/supination may change biomechanical and neuromuscular function of the lower extremities. The purpose of the present research was studying the Electromyographic activity of Quadriceps and Hamstring muscles during single leg jump-landing in people with high, flat or normal foot arches.
In the current cross-sectional study, 30 girls, aged 20-30 years old, with normal arch, high arch, and flat foot were recruited. The foot arch was measured using Navicular drop index, and then the amount of Electromyography activity of considered muscle was measured using wireless EMG (16 channels, Bayamed company) during single-leg jump landing. One-way ANOVA test was run to analyze the data with the significance level set at 95% (α=0.05).
There were significant differences in feedforward activity of Vastus lateralis (P=0.018) and Rectus femoris (P=0.026) between groups with high arch and flat feet, and significant differences in feedback activity of Rectus femoris (P-0.018), Biceps femoris (P=0.046), and Semitendinosis (P=0.048) between groups with healthy and high arch feet, as well Biceps femoris (P=0.048) and Semotendinosis (P=0.02) between groups with high arch and flat feet.
According to the results, high arch and flat foot may be associated with altered activation pattern of knee stabilizers and may increase the risk of injuries in the knees.