Correlation between foot arch type and balance performance: Foot Arch and Balance Performance

Daša Žnidaršič; Maja Dolenc; Katja Tomažin; Darjan Spudić

doi:10.52165/kinsi.30.3.19-30

Authors

Daša Žnidaršič University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Sport, Ljubljana, Slovenia ; Health care center Domžale, Domžale, Slovenia
Maja Dolenc University of Ljubljana, Faculty of sport
Katja Tomažin University of Ljubljana, Faculty of sport
Darjan Spudić University of Ljubljana, Faculty of sport https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8353-2958

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.52165/kinsi.30.3.19-30

Keywords:

arch index, landing, body sway, footprint, flat foot

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the correlations between different foot arch types and balance performance. Fortyfour Faculty of sport students completed the single-leg body sway balance test and single-leg landing tests using force plates, and single-leg foot-type tests using a pedobarometry platform with both the left and right legs. Spearman correlation coefficients were determined between the foot arch index and landing test results, as well as between the foot arch index and body sway test results. For the landing test results, we found statistically significant positive correlations between the arch index and the time to stability, calculated based on centre of pressure (COP) data for both legs (left: rho = 0.39, p < 0.05; right: rho = 0.34, p < 0.05). For the body sway test results, statistically significant negative correlations were found between the arch index and the frequency of COP path changes for both legs (left: rho = -0.39, p < 0.05; right: rho = -0.41, p < 0.05). Vertical force, COP path, and velocity were not correlated with the arch index results, regardless of the test. Our results suggest that participants with a lower foot arch needed more time to stabilize the movement of the body\'s COP after single-leg landing. Furthermore, participants with a lower arch index maintained single-leg balance with more frequent corrections of the body\'s COP. Based on our findings, we conclude that the foot arch height partially determines single-leg balance performance. Future studies are warranted to identify common muscle characteristics underpinning both balance test performance and arch index results.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Akoglu, H. (2018). User’s guide to correlation coefficients. Turkish Journal of Emergency Medicine, 18(3), 91–93. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tjem.2018.08.001

Chang, Y.-W., Su, F.-C., Wu, H.-W., & An, K.-N. (1999). Optimum length of muscle contraction. Clinical Biomechanics, 14, 537–542. www.elsevier.com/locate/clinbiomech

Cobb, S. C., Bazett-Jones, D. M., Joshi, M. N., Earl-Boehm, J. E., & James, C. R. (2014). The relationship among foot posture, core and lower extremity muscle function, and postural stability. Journal of Athletic Training, 49(2), 173-180.

Cormack, S. J., Newton, R. U., McGulgan, M. R., & Doyle, T. L. A. (2008). Reliability of measures obtained during single and repeated countermovement jumps. International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance, 3(2), 131–144. https://doi.org/10.1123/ijspp.3.2.131

Dawe, E. J., & Davis, J. (2011). (vi) Anatomy and biomechanics of the foot and ankle. Orthopaedics and Trauma, 25(4), 279-286.

Fujitaka K, Fujitake S, Kita T, Hashimoto M, Otuki S, Okubo M, Hon K. (2012). The Effect of the Foot Arch Related Muscle Strength Training on the Incidence of Ankle and Foot Injuries in Male College Soccer Players. Rigakuryoho Kagaku, 27(3), 263–7.

Gwani, A. S., Asari, M. A., & Ismail, Z. M. (2017). How the three arches of the foot intercorrelate. Folia Morphologica, 76(4), 682-688.

Hajirezayi, P., Ghasemi, G., Arghavani, H., & Sadeghi-Demneh, E. (2019). Comparison of postural control factors, static and dynamic balance in students with different foot arches. Journal of Paramedical Sciences & Rehabilitation, 8(2), 69-76.

Hopkins, W. G. (2000). Measures of reliability in sports medicine and science. Sports Medicine, 30(1), 1–15. https://doi.org/10.2165/00007256-200030010-00001

Hopkins, W. G., Marshall, S. W., Batterham, A. M., & Hanin, J. (2009). Progressive statistics for studies in sports medicine and exercise science. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, 41(1), 3–13. https://doi.org/10.1249/MSS.0b013e31818cb278

Jamaludin, N. I., Sahabuddin, F. N. A., Najib, R. K. M. R. A., Bahari, M. L. H. S., & Shaharudin, S. (2020). Bottom-up kinetic chain in drop landing among university athletes with normal dynamic knee valgus. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17(12), 1–10. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17124418

Jankowicz-Szymanska, A., Mikolajczyk, E., & Wardzala, R. (2015). Arch of the foot and postural balance in young judokas and peers. Journal of Pediatric Orthopaedics B, 24(5), 456-460.

Koo, T. K., & Li, M. Y. (2016). A guideline of selecting and reporting intraclass correlation coefficients for reliability research. Journal of Chiropractic Medicine, 15(2), 155–163. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcm.2016.02.012

Kozinc, Ž., & Šarabon, N. (2021). The effects of leg preference on transient characteristics of body sway during single-leg stance: a cross-sectional study. Frontiers in human neuroscience, 14, 617222.

Matsumoto M, Yamamoto K. Effect of Medial Longitudinal Arch Height on Static and Dynamic Balance Among UiTM Female Athletes. (2022). J Phys Ther Sci., 34, 135–9. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-15-3270-2_7

Menz, H. B., Fotoohabadi, M. R., Wee, E., & Spink, M. J. (2012). Visual categorisation of the arch index: a simplified measure of foot posture in older people. Journal of Foot and Ankle Research, 5(1), 1-7.

Šarabon, N., Rosker, J., Loefler, S., & Kern, H. (2010). Sensitivity of body sway parameters during quiet standing to manipulation of support surface size. Journal of Sports Science & Medicine, 9(3), 431.

Tong, J. W., & Kong, P. W. (2013). Association between foot type and lower extremity injuries: systematic literature review with meta-analysis. Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy, 43(10), 700-714.

Unver, B., Selici, K., Akbas, E., & Erdem, E. U. (2020). Foot posture, muscle strength, range of motion, and plantar sensation in overweight and obese. Journal of applied biomechanics, 37(2), 87-94.

Wikstrom, E. A., Tillman, M. D., Smith, A. N., & Borsa, P. A. (2005). A new force-plate technology measure of dynamic postural stability: the dynamic postural stability index. Journal of Athletic Training, 40(4), 305-309.

Zhao, X., Tsujimoto, T., Kim, B., & Tanaka, K. (2017). Association of arch height with ankle muscle strength and physical performance in adult men. Biology of sport, 34(2), 119-126.