Gender difference in factors affecting the medial longitudinal arch height of the foot in healthy young adults.
Katsuhito Nagano, Risako Okuyama, Natsuki Taniguchi and 1 others
PMID 29765178WHAT IT FOUND
In healthy young adults, foot arch height was associated with greater tibialis posterior strength in both sexes, and in women it was also associated with greater toe grip strength and lower hallux valgus angle and leg-heel alignment.
Key findings
01In male participants, arch height ratio was positively correlated with tibialis posterior muscle strength (r=0.42, p<0.01), and no significant correlations were found with the other measured factors.
02In female participants, arch height ratio was positively correlated with tibialis posterior muscle strength (r=0.36, p<0.05) and toe-gripping strength (r=0.38, p<0.05), and negatively correlated with hallux valgus angle (r=-0.37, p<0.05) and leg-heel alignment (r=-0.47, p<0.01).
03In both sexes, arch height ratio was not significantly correlated with height, weight, BMI, digitus minimus varus, or femoro-tibial angle.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTs
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What it does not show
The participants were healthy young adults, and people with central nervous system disease, peripheral nerve disease, or orthopedic disorders were excluded, so the findings may not apply to patients with foot, ankle, knee, or neurological problems. The study used correlations measured at one time point, so it cannot show that tibialis posterior strength, toe grip strength, hallux valgus angle, or leg-heel alignment causes higher or lower arch height. The sample was small (36 participants, 19 men and 17 women), and the analysis tested several factors, so some findings may be unstable.
Declared interests
The authors declared no conflict of interest.
The easy way to misread this
Do not conclude that tibialis posterior or toe grip training will raise arch height. This study measured associations in healthy young adults at one time point, not the effect of an intervention.