Forefoot transverse arch height asymmetry is associated with foot injuries in athletes participating in college track events.
Tsubasa Bito, Yuto Tashiro, Yusuke Suzuki and 5 others
PMID 30154585WHAT IT FOUND
Male track athletes with foot injuries had greater asymmetry in forefoot arch height under heavy weight-bearing than uninjured peers.
This asymmetry, not the arch height of either foot alone, was linked to injury history.
Key findings
01Athletes with a history of foot injury showed significantly greater asymmetry in forefoot transverse arch height during 90% weight loading compared to uninjured athletes.
02Forefoot transverse arch height asymmetry under 90% loading remained associated with foot injury after adjusting for BMI and competition history.
03No significant differences were found in unilateral forefoot arch height, midfoot arch height, or rearfoot alignment between injured and uninjured groups.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTs
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What it does not show
The study was cross-sectional, so it cannot prove that arch asymmetry caused the injuries. Injury history was collected by self-report questionnaire without medical records. The sample was small (55 participants) and consisted only of male college track athletes, so results may not apply to female athletes or other sports. The study did not control for running technique or training volume, which also affect injury risk.
Declared interests
None declared.
The easy way to misread this
Do not interpret the odds ratio of 1.26 as a large or clinically decisive risk increase. The effect size is modest, the study is cross-sectional, and the authors note the number of participants was insufficient for further statistical analysis.