Relationship between foot morphology and toe muscle strength in female university students.
Mieko Yokozuka, Kanako Okazaki, Yuko Sakamoto and 1 others
PMID 31164785WHAT IT FOUND
Among young women, toe grip and big toe muscle strength did not differ between groups classified by hallux valgus angle.
Feet with hallux valgus had lower arch height and more foot or toe pain. High heel use and BMI did not differ.
Key findings
01In 206 feet, feet with hallux valgus angle >=16 degrees had lower arch height ratio (18.5 mm/mm) than feet with angle <16 degrees (19.3 mm/mm).
02Toe flexor strength and abductor hallucis strength did not differ between feet with hallux valgus angle >=16 degrees and feet with angle <16 degrees.
03Foot or toe pain was present in 18.2% of participants with hallux valgus angle >=16 degrees and 2.9% of participants with angle <16 degrees.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTs
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What it does not show
The study measured young university students with an average BMI in the normal range, so it does not show what happens in older adults, people with higher BMI, or people with lower limb disease. Hallux valgus angle and arch height were measured from footprints and body surface, not X-ray, so classification may differ. Family history was not recorded for all participants, although it can affect hallux valgus. Toe strength measurement may have included other muscles and may not isolate toe flexors or abductor hallucis well. The study measured relationships at one time, so it cannot show cause or whether toe strength training prevents hallux valgus.
Declared interests
The paper reports no funding and no conflicts of interest.
The easy way to misread this
Do not conclude that weak toe muscles cause hallux valgus or that toe strength training prevents it. The study only measured young women at one time and found no difference in toe strength between groups.