Electromyographic examination of a new exercise therapy for the intrinsic and extrinsic foot muscles.
Eiichi Kuroyanagi, Takahiro Watanabe, Hinata Furusawa and 2 others
PMID 41036525WHAT IT FOUND
Heel raises with band resistance did not activate foot muscles more than heel raise or short foot exercise in people with normal feet.
In people with flat feet, they activated calf and shin muscles more than short foot exercise, but function was not tested.
Key findings
01In the flatfoot group, the band-resisted heel raise task produced greater activity in extrinsic foot muscles than short foot exercise, while intrinsic foot muscle activity was similar.
02In the flatfoot group, the band-resisted heel raise task produced greater abductor hallucis and peroneus brevis activity than heel raise alone.
03In the normal foot group, the band-resisted heel raise task did not produce different measured muscle activity from heel raise alone or short foot exercise.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTs
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What it does not show
The study included only 10 participants in each group. Participants had asymptomatic flat feet, and people with lower limb pain during measurement were excluded. Short foot exercise was measured while sitting, so standing muscle activity may differ. The study measured muscle activity only; it did not test arch change, pain, or walking and running kinematics. The normal foot group did not show the same muscle activity differences, so the result may not apply broadly.
Declared interests
The authors report no conflicts of interest.
The easy way to misread this
Do not treat greater muscle activity as proof that heel raises with band resistance improve flatfoot symptoms or walking. The study measured muscle activity only, and it did not test arch change, pain, or gait.
Summarised by AI from the full paper, without a clinician reviewing it. Check it against the source before it changes what you do. Read it on PubMed →