Effect of Six Weeks of Comprehensive Corrective Exercises on Balance and Foot Pressure Pattern in Female Adolescents with Flexible Flat Foot

The present study was conducted to evaluate the effect of six weeks of comprehensive corrective exercises on balance and foot pressure pattern in female adolescents with flexible flat foot.

Participants included 30 students aged 9 to 10 years with flat feet abnormalities randomly selected and divided into two groups of corrective exercise (age: 11.60±1.02 years, height: 148.46±10.29 cm, weight: 47.40±11.69 kg, and body mass index: 21.42±11.92) and control (age: 11.40±0.95 years, height: 148.46±12.67 cm, weight: 47.46±12.28 kg, and body mass index: 21.37±4.28). Questionnaires were used to collect demographic data and Navicular drop method was used to evaluate flat foot abnormality. Foot-related parameters, such as the level of the center of pressure and static balance, were also evaluated using a foot scanner. Descriptive statistics were used to determine the frequencies, central indices, and dispersion in the form of tables and graphs, and univariate and multivariate analysis of covariance was used to examine intergroup differences in research variables.

The results showed that corrective program had a significant effect on static balance with open and closed eyes (P<0.01), and the level of the center of the big toe pressure, first metatarsal bone, second metatarsal, third metatarsal, and midfoot region and inner side of the heel (P <0.01) in the exercise group.

The current study showed that corrective exercises are effective in improving balance and posture of the sole of the feet, so it is recommended that therapists use different exercises related to the trunk and lower limbs in the form of a corrective program to improve children's abnormalities.