The Effect of Strengthening Intrinsic Sole Muscles by Short-Foot Method on Pressure Distribution, Arch Width, and Sole Indices of Students with Flat Feet

The purpose of the present research is to study the effect of strengthening intrinsic sole muscles by short-foot method on pressure distribution, arch width, and sole indices of students with flat feet. To this aim, 24 students suffering from subtalar joint hyper-pronation (average and standard deviation of age: 12.3±16.64, average and standard deviation of weight: 41.53±14.01, average and standard deviation of height: 147.5±19.74) were divided into two 12-member groups. The exercise group practiced short-foot exercises for 10 weeks to strengthen their intrinsic sole muscles. Staheli & Chipax-Smirak index, arch width, and pressure distribution percentage on the intrinsic horizontal arch were obtained from 2 groups before and after exercises by a foot scanner. Data analysis results showed that in the exercise group, all indexes of Staheli (p<0.001), Chipax-Smirak (p=0.001), arch width (p<0.001), and weight distribution percentage on intrinsic horizontal arches (p<0.001) of both feet significantly improved while there was no change in the control group (p>0.05). The above results show that short-foot exercising as a new method for strengthening intrinsic muscles of the feet are effective in enhancing the arch width and can improve arch indexes too. Therefore, this type of exercise is advised to improve the condition of the foot arch in those who have flat feet.