Background and Objectives: Knee and ankle abnormalities are highly prevalent and may be related. The aim of the present study was to determine the effect of eight weeks of corrective exercises on navicular drop, proprioception, and balance in 10–13-year-old girls with flat foot with and without genu valgum.
Materials and Methods: This clinical trial study was conducted in 2024. A total of 40 female students aged 10 to 13 years with flexible flat feet, who had not reached puberty, were selected from Tabriz City using convenience and purposive sampling methods. The samples were divided into two equal groups (20 with flat feet with a genu valgum and another 20 with flat feet without a genu valgum). In the pre-test and post-test, the genu valgum was assessed using a Collis, the posture of the foot was assessed using the navicular bone drop method, the ankle proprioception was assessed using a goniometer, and the static balance was assessed using the Stork test. Multivariate analysis of covariance was used to compare the mean of the variables across the two groups.
Results: The results showed a significant difference between the two groups with flat feet with and without genu valgum in the variables of navicular drop (p=0.003) and static balance (p=0.001). Furthermore, there was no significant difference between the two groups with flat feet with and without genu valgum in ankle proprioception (p=0.220).
Conclusion: The results of the current study show an improvement in foot drop and balance in girls with flat foot and genu valgum. Therefore, it is recommended that specialists consider corrective exercises to improve these variables.
Key words: Corrective exercises, Genu valgum, Flat foot, Navicular drop, Sense of proprioception
Funding: This study did not have any funds
Conflict of interest: None declared.
Ethical considerations: The Ethics Committee of Urmia University approved the study (IR.URMIA.REC.1402.030).
Authors’ contributions:
Conceptualization: Sajad Roshani, Mehrnaz Zolfeghary, Ebrahim Mohammad Ali Nasab Firouzjah
Methodology: Sajad Roshani, Mehrnaz Zolfeghary
Data collection: Mehrnaz Zolfeghary, Ebrahim Mohammad Ali Nasab Firouzjah
Formal analysis: Mehrnaz Zolfeghary
Supervision: Sajad Roshani, Ebrahim Mohammad Ali Nasab Firouzjah
Project administration: Sajad Roshani
Writing - original draft: Sajad Roshani
Writing – review & editing: Sajad Roshani, Mehrnaz Zolfeghary
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